Workers receive last paychecks, for a while

• Hawaiian Cement contract talks to resume today

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Striking worker Peedi Saldania has been saving money for three years. As she watches her co-workers on the picket line, she worries that many haven't been able to do the same. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

It was a weekly ritual, repeated in households all across O'ahu, that had a somber twist for 211 striking Ameron Hawaii and Hawaiian Cement employees.

Financial assistance from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is supposed to begin arriving next week. The checks will total between $230 and $260 per week.

And even the first of the Teamsters strike checks will be delayed because of the President's Day holiday on Monday.

"Although they're told by the union, 'Save your money. This might not be a good year,' most people don't," said Jim Santangelo, vice president for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who oversees the Western division. "Most of the membership lives day to day and most people don't prepare for a strike."

But 40-year-old Saldania, one of only two female Teamsters at Ameron, isn't most people.

She's been saving for this strike since the Teamsters negotiated their last contract with Ameron three years ago.

"Just for safety," Saldania said.

Saldania has been tucking any extra money and taking a little bit out of her paychecks — just in case.

She isn't married, has no kids and shares the mortgage on a five-bedroom home in 'Aina Haina with a roommate. She pays off her credit cards every month and has few other bills.

Union members from both Ameron and Hawaiian Cement paid their full healthcare benefits for the next three months, said Michael Chambrella, in-house counsel for the Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996.

And the union is helping striking workers write letters to their mortgage companies, landlords, banks and other people they owe money to, Santangelo said.

"The bank knows you're on strike," Santangelo said. "Maybe they'll ask you to pay the principal or do what you can until you get back to work. They don't want you to default."

Twelve striking concrete workers filed for state unemployment benefits as of yesterday, said James Hardway of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

The department must determine whether they are eligible for unemployment benefits. If the department decides they do not qualify — because the companies' operations were halted by 20 percent or more — employees will have 10 days to appeal to the Employment Security Appeals Referee's Office. Either side can appeal again to the state Circuit Court.

For now, Saldania worries more about co-workers who didn't have the foresight — or financial ability — to save like she did.

"Some of the guys with bigger families, I don't know how they get by," Saldania said.

Saldania then got up from her water break and rejoined nine other striking workers walking in a hot circle outside Ameron's Sand Island operation.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.

Hawaiian Cement contract talks to resume today

Contract negotiations are scheduled to resume today at 2:30 p.m. between striking concrete workers and Hawaiian Cement after talks broke off six days ago.

No meetings are planned between Ameron Hawaii, O'ahu's other major concrete company, and the Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996.

In all, 144 Ameron workers went on strike Friday and 67 Hawaiian Cement employees followed on Saturday, halting or delaying construction projects around O'ahu.

Unionized workers at both companies are striking over sick leave and plans to increase employee contributions to healthcare plans.

Hawaiian Cement and Teamsters negotiators last met on Friday. Ameron's talks broke off Saturday.

Federal mediator Ken Kawamoto yesterday arranged today's meeting between Hawaiian Cement and Teamsters negotiators.

"I responded in the affirmative," said Mike Coad, Hawaiian Cement's vice president and chief negotiator. "We are looking forward to getting back to constructive and productive discussions."

Michael Chambrella, the Teamsters in-house counsel, said: "We are always hopeful."

George West, vice president of O'ahu operations for Ameron Hawaii, said "it's a good sign" that "somebody's getting back to the table to continue discussions."

"I hope that the negotiations are positive," West said. "Then I would look for discussions with Ameron — that we can get back to the table."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.