Hawaiian Cement, union 'optimistic'

By Curtis Lum and Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writers

Contract talks between striking Teamsters and Hawaiian Cement negotiators broke off at 11:15 last night, when the negotiators announced that they will resume talks at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

It was the first sign of progress in O'ahu's 18-day-old concrete strike since both sides last met on Feb. 13.

No talks, however, were held or scheduled with Ameron Hawai'i, O'ahu's other major concrete company being struck by the Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996. Ameron and Teamsters negotiators last held contract talks on Feb. 7.

Both sides left the meeting last night feeling hopeful after meeting face to face for the first time since the strike began. Up until last night, negotiations were done through a federal mediator. But last night at the union's Kalihi headquarters, the two sides sat down at the same table and talked.

"I'm more optimistic after today's meeting than I was prior to," said Hawaiian Cement's vice president, Michael Coad.

Teamsters president Mel Kahele agreed that some progress was achieved. He said the major sticking points continue to be medical benefits and sick leave.

The latest offer on the table now is a proposal by the union to management, and that is what management will consider before talks resume tomorrow. Neither side would go into specifics about the deal being considered.

Kahele said, "We're optimistic, and we're going to continue to bargain up until the time we reach an agreement."

Just before negotiations began around 5 p.m., Coad said, "It's been a while. We have some new ideas and some thoughts and hopefully tonight's talks will prove fruitful.

"It's been a while since we have officially talked across the table," Coad said. "It's given both sides an opportunity to look at their positions and re-evaluate them and be able to make some adjustments that will result in this work stoppage being ended.

"Hawaiian Cement — this I've said from Day 1 — wants to get this matter resolved," Coad said, "and we'll come back to the table any time we're asked."

The effects of O'ahu's concrete strike have rapidly expanded beyond the picket lines that went up Feb. 6, when 144 Teamsters struck Ameron Hawai'i. They were followed the next day by 67 Teamsters who struck Hawaiian Cement.

The strike has cost hundreds of construction workers their jobs and slowed or halted construction projects across O'ahu.

The issues are similar at both companies: sick leave and company proposals to increase employee contributions to healthcare plans.

In their old contract, Hawaiian Cement workers paid nothing for their healthcare plans. Hawaiian Cement proposed that they bear 20 percent of the costs. Ameron wants its union employees to increase their payment from 20 percent to 30 percent.

Both companies have said that rising healthcare expenses represent the fastest-growing segment of their labor costs.

Reach Dan Nakaso at 525-8085 or at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com. Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.