Yosemite Workers End 10-Day Strike

The first strike in the 95-year history of Yosemite National Park ended Sunday after 10 days as the Teamsters Union accepted a new contract offer, officials said.

The settlement came quickly after contract talks reopened Saturday in Fresno, and a union vote was taken in the park late Sunday afternoon, according to spokesman Alan Richmond of the struck Yosemite Park & Curry Co.

The company operates all concessions in the park under a contract with the U.S. Park Service, which was not directly involved in the strike by 109 members of Teamsters Local 386.

“They called a union gathering in the park and presented the offer to the membership, and it was accepted by a high margin,” Richmond said. “So all workers will return to their jobs on Tuesday morning.”

Strike Began May 17

The strikers, including bus drivers, mechanics, maintenance workers and service station attendants, walked off their jobs on May 17 after rejecting a three-year offer they charged had too many take-backs.

Details of the new contract were not disclosed, and union officials were not available for comment.

The offer rejected earlier called for pay boosts of about 7% over three years but would have required that workers pay half of their medical insurance, which would have nullified the pay boosts, according to union officials.