Teamsters strike King’s Ready Mix for second day

Chauffeurs, Teamsters and Helpers Local 238 Secretary-Treasurer Jesse Case, in a message posted to the union’s Facebook page on Monday, said the employees of the King’s Ready Mix division of King’s Material in Cedar Rapids have called a strike to earn “a livable wage.”

The drivers went on strike Monday, following two weeks of negotiations.

Case, in the social media video, said the drivers’ wages have been “stagnant for a decade.”

In response to the union action, company President Charlie Rohde, whose father C.P. Rohde purchased the company in 1978, said in a statement that, “We are disappointed to have not reached an agreement. We have always had a wage-and-fringe benefit package that is fair and equitable to our team, and our offers have reflected that.”

He added the dispute “solely impacts our King’s Ready Mix division in Cedar Rapids and has no impact on our masonry and landscape divisions. During this time, we will continue to serve all customers across the King’s Material organization.”