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October 13, 2008

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Concrete Drivers Go On Strike

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By Gina Ford

Story Published: May 14, 2008 at 5:58 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 14, 2008 at 8:16 PM CDT

The members of Teamsters Local 26 Union are on strike. They say Modahl and Scott ready mix concrete plant is paying them unfair wages.

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They have turned off their truck engines and are now taking eight-hour shifts on the picket line.

The drivers say all they want is to earn the same wages and get the same benefits as other Twin Cities drivers.

Striking workers say McLean County Concrete drivers make about one dollar and 50 cents more than the 18 drivers at Modahl and Scot and they allegedly receive healthcare after retirement.

Concrete driver David Schumm says he has worked for the company for 24 years and the wages have never been fair.

He said, "Well our company is never been willing to pay us equal to what the other companies, other union companies in this town have already been getting for quite some time."

He says Modahl and Scott managers made an offer to the drivers, but Schumm says an 85-cent increase is not good enough.

Schumm estimates the company is losing about 350,000 dollars in gross earnings per day as a result of the strike.

Modahl and Scott management declined to comment about the strike.

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