Health care costs are at the center of a controversy between Darigold and the Teamsters Local 117, while after a recent negotiations meeting both sides are claiming the opposite of what the other says.
The latter recently filed an unfair labor practice charge against the Seattle-based dairy cooperative, claiming it walked out of negotiations with a mediator, according to a report byAshley Gross of KPLU 88.5 Radio.The cooperative, however, says that is not true. A few went home, but Steve Rowe, general counsel for the cooperative, and other executives remained at the table, he told the news organization.
The cooperative “wants to have the ability to charge workers a bit more for their health care if costs go up under the Affordable Care Act,” according to the report, a sticking point between the parties. Meanwhile, workers — more than 200 of the cooperative’s 1,400 are represented by the Teamsters — have voted to authorize a strike.
Rowe, however, says the company does not want to see a strike but would like to reach an agreement soon. PD
—Summarized by PD staff from cited source
