NB The agreement has now been ratified by 75% of the Borax workforce.
May 16, 2010:
The Los Angeles labour movement celebrated the announcement of a tentative settlement in the lockout of workers that had ravaged the small mining town of Boron, California.
See http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/view/156658.
Press release from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union,
1188 Franklin Street, San Francisco, California 94109, USA.
Friday, May 14, 2010
CONTACT: Craig Merrilees +1 510-774-5325
Tentative settlement reached in Boron lockout:
Workers win their “David vs. Goliath” fight for good jobs
An important victory for working families & communities that stood together against corporate greed
· Company can’t convert full-time jobs into part-time temp positions
· Protections in place against discrimination and favoritism
· Guaranteed annual wage increases in 6-year pact
Five-hundred and seventy workers have won their fight to protect jobs after battling one of the world’s largest mining companies that lockout-out employees at Rio Tinto’s Borax mine in Boron, CA, on January 31, 2010.
“Local 30 President Dave Liebengood, the Negotiating Committee and all the members deserve credit for standing up and sticking together to make this victory possible,” said ILWU International President Bob McEllrath who joined the final stage of contract negotiations.
Success also resulted from widespread support in High-Desert communities, including dozens of small business owners who opposed Rio Tinto’s lockout. Critical support was also provided by working families in Los Angeles County, coordinated by the L.A. County Federation of Labor. Working families across the country through the AFL-CIO donated critical support as did union members around the globe.
A tentative agreement between Rio Tinto and workers represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 30 was reached at 1 a.m. Friday, May 14, 2010. The agreement is tentative, subject to review, discussion and voting by all union members that will take place on Saturday morning, May 15, 2010.
The tentative agreement calls for annual 2.5% wage increases in each year of the 6-year pact. Workers maintained protection against discrimination and favoritism involving promotions, shifts, scheduling, and overtime assignments.
Current employees will continue to receive good retirement pensions; newly hired employees would receive 401(k) savings plans paid for by the company.