Teamsters Local 215 members employed by Irving Materials, Inc. (IMI) in Evansville, Indiana ended their strike against the company and ratified a new three-year contract on Thursday, July 25.

“We worked two months without a contract, and finally enough was enough,” said Local 215 President Chuck Whobrey. “We’ve certainly had our tough negotiations over the years, but we have always worked through the contract and been able to get settlements.”

The workers went on strike on June 3, after the company insisted in their “final offer” that the workers pull out of the Central States Health and Welfare Fund (known as TeamCare) so they could join a company plan with inferior benefits. After more than a month of striking, the workers reached an agreement with the company where they not only kept their health care, but also obtained hourly wage increases totaling $3.05 over the lifetime of the contract.

The workers also received support from IMI workers who are members of Teamsters Local 89 as well as the other unions in the Southwestern Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council. Many contractors throughout Evansville supported the strike by refusing to use IMI’s services until the dispute was resolved.

The new contract runs through April 1, 2022. Congratulations to all of the IMI Teamsters who fought hard for a good contract and demanded their worth!

 

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