Teamsters Tell Jeffboat to Stop Attacking Working Families

Company Demands Decrease in Health Care Benefits While Increasing Costs

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 600 men and women represented by Teamsters Local 89 in Louisville, Ky. were forced to strike Jeffboat in Jeffersonville, Ind. on April 2, after company representatives demanded the workers agree to massive cuts in their health benefits during contract negotiations.

The union's negotiating team agreed to early bargaining in 2009 after the company pledged to not make any concessionary demands. However, the negotiations broke off after Jeffboat broke that pledge by proposing unreasonable cuts in wages, health care and benefits.

"We entered into early negotiations last year with the hope that the company would bargain in good faith," said Jeff Cooper, Teamsters Local 89 business agent. "Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that Jeffboat's representatives were looking for unreasonable concessions from our members."

The company and the union returned to negotiations in March 2010, but were unable to reach a resolution after the company continued to demand the workers accept cuts to their health care plan.

The workers have expressed their frustration with the company's stance, as the jobs they perform are physically demanding, making the need of affordable health care a necessity – not a luxury. Management at Jeffboat has argued that the proposed health plan is the same plan they are on. However, managers at Jeffboat certainly don't do the same job as the 600 members of Local 89.

"Our members at Jeffboat are welders and fabricators, crane operators and painters," said Fred Zuckerman, President of Local 89. "They don't sit behind a desk where the worst injury you could suffer is a paper cut. Over time, these physical occupations take a toll on your body, and having good, affordable health care is critical."  

"This plan they have proposed means more money out of my pocket for a lower level of benefits," said John R. Knowles, a propeller mechanic/outside machinist that has been at Jeffboat for four-and-a-half years. "My family already struggles to make end meet every month. This health plan would make it even harder."

SOURCE Teamsters Local 89