Union ratifies Port of Moses Lake contract

MOSES LAKE — Teamsters Local 760 recently voted upon a new contract offer from J.R. Simplot's Moses Lake location, a representative says.

According to Teamster Local 760 spokesperson Larry Nickell, the contract was rejected on a 3-to-1 margin.

Nickell met with the company last week to discuss why the contract was rejected.

"They were going to go back and review, see what improvements they could make," Nickell said. "We do have strike authorization with that bargaining unit, but certainly the employer deserves an opportunity to try to correct the deficiencies in the contract."

Keith Harkless, J.R. Simplot Company Director of Employment Practices and Labor Relations, said these are his first negotiations with Moses Lake, so he doesn't have a point of comparison about how things are proceeding.

"I guess they look well," he said of negotiations.

"From the company's point of view, our first concern is our employees and we want to be competitive in the area and attract the best, most qualified employees," Harkless continued. "I'm confident we're going to get there."

The Port of Moses Lake recently ratified a new three-year contract with Teamsters Local 760, Nickell said, and he anticipated a vote upon an offer from Lamb Weston's Quincy location in the coming weeks. The offer will be fully recommended by the bargaining committee, he said.