
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 14, 1995                   TAG: 9504140032
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CEMENT WORKERS OK PACT

Production employees at Roanoke Cement won raises and overtime concessions and regained lost seniority Thursday when they approved their first contract in more three years.

Members of Local D-314 of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers voted in favor of the new agreement, but exact totals were not released.

The agreement, which covers 109 employees, takes effect May 1. It raises wages 55 cents this year and 3 percent in 1996 and 1997. The pay range is $10.45 to $14.81.

Titan Cement of Athens, Greece, has controlled pay, benefits and working conditions at the plant since forming a partnership with the plant's owner, Tarmac America of London, in 1992. Titan was free to set its own terms because the previous contract had expired earlier that year.

Union President Jeff Stump said the new contract replaces what production employees considered Titan's less-favorable terms with a more generous compensation package. "I can only see that we're gaining over the original labor conditions," Stump said.

The company and union negotiated for about two years before coming to terms last month.

Roanoke Cement General Manager Tom Neary said the company is glad to have an agreement. It will foster "harmony in the work force," he said.

The contract will increase the company's labor costs 3 to 4 percent, Neary said.

Roanoke Cement's new owners had stripped union members of their seniority for some purposes. The contract gives it back in some regards.

Seniority now will determine, in part, which Roanoke Cement employees are at risk of being laid off this year after modernization of the plant's largest kiln, Stump said. Neary said the company will try to avoid layoffs, but could be forced to let go as many as 50 people. The modernization, costing $40 million, began in March. It is intended to increase efficiency and reduce pollution.

Other contract terms will make it easier for employees to earn overtime, Stump said. For some time, employees have needed to work 40 hours before receiving overtime. As of May 1, vacation days and holidays will count toward the 40-hour benchmark. The union didn't receive its request for overtime pay for any hours over eight worked in one shift.

In addition, those on Sunday shifts will receive 125 percent of their usual wages instead of straight time. In 1996 and 1997, Sunday's rate of pay increases to time-and-a-half.

Roanoke Cement also agreed to deduct union dues from paychecks, sparing the union the task of collecting the money.

by CNB