Mississippi Lime Co. announced that hourly employees and drivers represented by Laborers Local 829 and Steelworkers Local 169G in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement effective July 1.
The new agreement includes a significant wage increase in the first year along with competitive increases in each of the remaining years of the contract. Benefits and other compensation elements were also enhanced as a result of negotiations.
Mississippi Lime Co. President and CEO William H. Ayers said, “The offer was very fair and shows our commitment to being one of the top employers in the area. We are fortunate to have an outstanding workforce dedicated to our business and our customers.”
Ayers complimented union representatives and members of management’s negotiating team for their hard work in reaching the new agreement and for the professional manner in which negotiations were conducted.
“It’s a difficult time to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement,”Ayers said. “With a tight labor market and economic uncertainty, we must focus on the long-term sustainability of our business which includes offering competitive compensation and benefits. This enables us to attract and retain the best talent.”
Ayers added, “The negotiations were conducted in a spirit of mutual problem solving. Our Core Values at Mississippi Lime serve as management’s guiding principles in all we do, including contract negotiations.”