Steelworkers Approve Three Year Agreement With Ball Container

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/4024.php

Steelworkers Approve Three Year Agreement With Ball Container

For Immediate Release May 20, 2007

Pittsburgh – The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that a new three-year labor agreement with Ball Metal Beverage Container Operations covering some 550 workers at three locations was ratified by a cumulative vote total of 249 to 109 on Friday by rank and file workers in a secret ballot process conducted at each location.

The new agreement provides for annual wage increases of three percent in the first year, two percent in the second year and 2.75 percent in the final year, in addition to increment increases between job grades. The average hourly wage under the previous agreement was $20.

“Before our negotiations got started, our local union leaders established the priority of preserving decent, affordable health for active workers and retirees,” said USW International Vice President Fred Redmond , who led the negotiations.

“We’ve achieved high quality health care with modest affordable premiums for active employees and future retirees and maintained a single health care plan for active workers and future retirees,” he said. “As a result of the agreements that we reached, the Company will be able to pass along some savings to current retirees.”


FULL story at link.