Darigold, Teamsters lock horns over health care costs
Rowe said union members are currently paying 5% of health care costs. Darigold has assured the union that they would not pay more than 10%.
Darigold Inc., Seattle, disputed the assertion made by the Teamsters today that it walked out of federal mediation talks late Monday night. Darigold General Counsel and Senior Vice President Steven Rowe told Dairy Foods that some members of the dairy cooperative's team did leave the meeting but continued to participate by telephone after they arrived home. Rowe said the bargaining session lasted from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
A press release from Teamsters Local 117 today said Darigold's action set "the stage for a potential lockout or strike at the company’s production facilities in Issaquah and Seattle." Teamsters 117 represents 220 workers at the two plants.