This article originally appeared in Chemical Solutions, Issue 12.
Local 1-8565 members at BASF’s Streetsboro, Ohio, cement plant ratified at the end of March a five-year agreement that included a 13 percent wage increase over the contract term and benefit improvements.
The contract began March 31, 2018 and ends April 1, 2022. It covers 19 maintenance and production workers.
“The workers felt comfortable with a five-year contract,” said Local 1-8565 President Marcus Graves. He helped negotiate the agreement for the BASF unit in his amalgamated local.
Wages increase the first year at 2.5 percent. Wages will increase 2.6 percent in the second, third and fourth years. Workers will see a 2.75 percent wage increase the fifth year of the contract.
No changes were made to the health care plan, and workers will continue to pay 20 percent of the health insurance premiums.
Life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance coverage increases $2,000 to $42,000 of coverage.
BASF will increase its 401(k) match from 6 percent to 7 percent effective Jan. 1, 2019.
The local inserted a probationary period for summer help, and added contract language regarding daily transfers, via seniority, if there is a lack of work in an area. Graves said everyone is cross-trained and can do all the jobs at the site.
“It was a tough negotiation,” Graves said, “but the members won a decent contract.”
BASF bought the site six years ago from Master Builder, which purchased it from Degussa.