Strike over!

Teamsters Local 25 Agree to Contract with CertainTeed, Plant to Resume Operations Tuesday

Teamsters Local 25, representing 90 workers at CertainTeed’s Norwood, Mass. roofing plant, have come to terms on a five-year contract agreement with CertainTeed Corporation. Members voted overwhelmingly, 69-0 to accept the contract offer and will be returning to work Tuesday with full shingle and granule production beginning at that time.

“No one wants to strike in this economy, but maintaining quality health benefits was a fight worth fighting,” said Teamsters Local 25 President and Principal Officer Sean O’Brien. “Teamsters Local 25 is pleased to have been able to protect the livelihood of our members at the Norwood site, and thank the community for their support during this time. This settlement shows that when we come together, both unions and companies are capable of providing for employees while enabling companies to grow.”

Key to the agreement is that employees will maintain their Teamsters Local 25-managed healthcare plan, with both parties agreeing to a new, mutually beneficial cost-sharing arrangement.

"This contract provides quality benefits to our employees, while enabling CertainTeed to remain competitive in a difficult economic climate," said CertainTeed Roofing President Tom Smith. "We are proud to be able to reach an agreement with Teamsters Local 25 in Norwood since it helps insure that high-quality manufacturing jobs remain an important part of the Massachusetts economy for years to come."