Talks fail to end strike at Columbia Ford

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/07/10/area_news/news10.txt

Talks fail to end strike at Columbia Ford
By Andre Stepankowsky
Jul 10, 2007 - 06:59:54 am PDT

A round of talks with the help of a federal mediator Monday morning led to no progress between Columbia Ford and two of its workers' unions, and a strike against the Longview dealership will continue, union representatives said.

"The company did not change their offer at all. We went there bargaining in good faith, but no bargaining took place," said Brian King, business representative for Teamsters Local 58.

No new talks or mediation sessions were planned as the strike, involving 30 mechanics and parts department workers, entered its fourth week Monday.

The two sides disagree on how much workers should contribute to their health care insurance.

Columbia Ford is proposing to cap its monthly contributions to health coverage at $650 per individual for family coverage, leaving Teamsters workers to each pay about $100 a month. Currently, the workers pay $34 a month. Machinists' health care costs would increase to $133 a month.

Though the immediate cost increase is of a concern to the union, workers are especially wary of how much more they would pay as health insurance costs continue to escalate, said Dan Morgan, assistant business representative for Machinists Local 1350, which represents about 20 of the striking workers.


FULL story at link.