Lights It Up Blue For Autism - Teamsters Local 25

New ContractCertainTeed Corporation and Teamsters Local 25, representing90 workers at CertainTeed’s Norwood, Massachusetts roofingplant, came to terms on a five-year contract agreement on February10, 2012 after a 40-day strike.The employees voted overwhelmingly, 69-0, to accept thecontract offer and returned to work on February 13, 2012.Key to the agreement is that employees will maintaintheir Teamsters Local 25-managed health care plan, withboth parties agreeing to a new, mutually beneficial costsharingarrangement.“No one wants to strike in this economy, but maintainingquality health benefits was a fight worth fighting,” said TeamstersLocal 25 President and Principal Officer Sean M. O’Brien.“Teamsters Local 25 is pleased to have been able to protect thelivelihood of our members at the Norwood site, and thank thecommunity for their support during this time.“This contract provides quality benefits to our employees,while enabling CertainTeed to remain competitive in a difficulteconomic climate," said CertainTeed Roofing President TomSmith. “We are proud to be able to reach an agreement withTeamsters Local 25 in Norwood since it helps insure that highqualitymanufacturing jobs remain an important part of theMassachusetts economy for years to come.”“The strike turned out to really solidify the membership,”said Robert Grudian, Chief Steward at the plant. “We had 90men on that picket line night and day, throughout Christmasand New Year’ Day, and during rain, snow and sub-zero temperatures.The strike made us tougher and stronger as a groupof workers.”The workers at the plant speak 15 different languages, andthey all communicated together to make sure that everyone hadwhat they needed to get through the strike, including unemploymentinsurance, health insurance and strike benefits.About CertainTeedFounded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company,the firm’s slogan “Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed,”quickly inspired the name CertainTeed.Today, CertainTeed is North America’s leading brand ofexterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding,windows, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe,insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers. A subsidiary ofSaint-Gobain, the world’s largest building products company,CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 6,000 employeesand more than 65 manufacturing facilities throughout theUnited States and Canada.www.teamsterslocal25.com | SPRING 2012 | The SPOKESMAN | 7