Strike ends at Celite

Teamsters, company settle on contract

QUINCY - Workers at a Quincy plant returned to work Monday morning after seven weeks on strike.

Teamsters Local 760 took Celite Corporation in Quincy out on strike July 2, citing wage increase and contract language issues as well as employees being required to pay a larger share of their health and welfare premiums, up to $250 per month.

All 46 Teamster member-employees participated in the strike. The company mines diatomaceous earth, which is used to help plastic bags from clinging together.

Teamster Local 760 spokesperson Larry Nickell said a Seattle federal mediator was involved in negotiations on Friday.

"The parties were still stuck in their positions," Nickell said.

The mediator presented his recommendation to both parties to take back to their respective bodies.

"Both sides ultimately agreed to it," Nickell said. "We're all happy with it. It's something we can live with for the next three years, and it preserves good jobs here in the Columbia Basin."

Celite Corporation Corporate Counsel Jim Kuykendall said the company was informed by the Teamsters business agent the bargaining unit members voted and accepted Celite's last offer.

"Our employees returned to work Monday and were welcomed back by the company," Kuykendall said. "It was unfortunate that the union decided to strike and we are glad that the matter is resolved."

"This strike was never about money," stated Local 760 Secretary-Treasurer John Parks. "Had this company succeeded in its efforts, many men with 30 years or more service to this company could have been out of work just short of retirement. These valiant men are to be commended for their resolve in taking a stand against corporate greed."

Nickell said negotiations with Celite were not at all typical. Initially, he and a Celite representative had telephone discussions about how the contract was working and there would not be a lot of issues to go through.

"It was simply boiled down to wages and benefits," Nickell said. "We had our initial meeting and exchanged proposals, agreed to a few minor cleanup issues in the contract related to the Imerys purchase of World Minerals."

French-based company Imerys purchased World Minerals, which owns Celite Corporation, in 2005.

Following the first day of meeting, Nickell said, the company's representatives then had a situation in California where they had to leave.

"We met the following week and they introduced all of these outrageous proposals that amounted to extreme concessions," Nickell said. "Frankly, they tipped over the apple cart, so to speak, and caused us to request certain information. It took them about two and a half weeks to provide that information based on their proposals."

At the same time, the company began bringing in replacement workers for the employees to train, and asked for a contract extension.

"Which we told them we would agree to, however they would have to pull the scabs out of the plant," Nickell said. "We certainly didn't want to get put in a position to train our own replacements. They refused to do it, also refused to meet and bargain with us and that's what caused the strike."

Each negotiation is different, Kuykendall said, so it is difficult to say what is typical.

"We are pleased that the union recognized the need for change and accepted our last offer," he said. "We look forward to a constructive and cooperative relationship with the union and we welcome back our employees."