Teamster Ready Mix drivers from Local 200 in Milwaukee voted 110-4 to extend their contract into 2011.

The drivers, who work for a number of Ready Mix companies, including Meyer Material, Central, Sonag, Ace, New Berlin, Ojibwa, Ottawa and Okauchee Ready Mix, were concerned about their future retirement benefits. Talk of the weak economy and possibly concessions by the employers of the Ready Mix Association in the upcoming 2009 negotiations also got Local 200 leaders moving on a plan of action.

The local was able to get the employers to agree to lock into five additional years of the primary fund schedule with Central States Pension Fund. That agreement from the Ready Mix employers secured the pension contributions needed to maintain the current level of member retirement benefits. The local was also able to get the employers to agree to increase the hourly wage rate by $1 per hour and to extend health and welfare rates with no co-pays for members.

"This agreement not only maintains pension contributions, it also maintains health and welfare benefits and gives a wage increase for both years of the extension," said Jim Hilgenberg, a steward at Central Ready Mix. "Most of us here would have voted yes for this even without a raise. This is great for all of our members. My hat is off to the local for the great job they did."

"Our members have spoken loud and clear that their pension security down the road is very important to them," said Tom Bennett, President of Local 200.