Continental Cement workers go on strike

HANNIBAL, Mo. — About 100 members of United Steelworkers Local 11-205 who work for Continental Cement went on strike at 4 a.m. Wednesday.

The union claims the company has engaged in unfair labor practices. The previous contract with Continental Cement originally expired in May 2022 and the union agreed to two extensions that went through Sept. 30 as union employees continued working with and without a formal contract extension while bargaining continued.

“Negotiations in Hannibal were hindered by management’s unfair demands for workers to give up their voice over scheduling issues, overtime and cross training, as well as its discriminatory terminations of union employees and refusal to provide information needed for bargaining,” said USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez. “Now, Continental Cement’s actions have left workers no other options to make their voices heard than to strike against unfair labor practices.”

“Management needs to get the message that we are committed to fighting for the fair contract that USW members have earned and deserve,” Ramirez said. “It’s time for Continental Cement to obey the law and negotiate with workers in good faith for a fair contract in Hannibal.”

USW District 11 Subdistrict 2 Director Ron Wilkey said members of other unions who do subcontracting work at Continental Cement have honored the picked line, which Wilkey said will run 24/7 until there is a new agreement.

Calls to management of Continental Cement have not yet been returned.