THOUSAND OAKS : Walkout Staged as Show of Solidarity
Nearly 50 construction workers walked off a Thousand Oaks building site early Tuesday to show solidarity for local Teamsters truck drivers striking against CalMat Co.
Work on the Calleguas Municipal Water District water treatment plant under construction on Olsen Road was all but shut down Tuesday morning after workers representing several local unions walked away from the site.
Union workers said they were angry to learn that the general contractor, Amoroso Development Co., had returned to using CalMat concrete after temporarily switching to another company because of the strike, which is in its fourth week.
The Teamsters have refused to accept a new contract with CalMat that includes a $2.20-an-hour pay cut and a reduction in health insurance benefits.
Unions participating in the walkout included Carpenters Local Union 150, the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local No. 484, Ironworkers Local No. 416 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 952, said Bob Guillen, secretary of the Ventura County Building and Construction Trades Council.
Workers said they will continue to show support for the Teamsters as long as the contractor uses materials supplied by CalMat.
“If they bring those concrete trucks back in Wednesday, then we’ll walk out again,” said one who declined to be identified.
CalMat officials mailed letters to all the striking drivers last week telling them they would be replaced permanently if they do not return to work today.
Dennis Shaw, secretary treasurer and chief executive for the Teamsters Local 186, said he hoped the show of solidarity would help push CalMat into reconsidering the pay cut.
“When they have interruptions in work like that, it costs them money and hopefully it will encourage them to negotiate,” Shaw said.
Negotiations between Teamsters and the construction materials company have been stalled since July 26, and Shaw said they are not expected to resume until next week.
CalMat officials were unavailable for comment Tuesday.
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