BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Bellingham Cold Storage President and CEO Doug Thomas says he perplexed by union workers’ claims that the company is undercutting their health care plan.
Teamsters employees have voted in favor of a strike against the seafood warehousing company with their chief complaint being the cost of health care they’re being asked to pay.
Thomas says the company has consistently offered the same robust plan they’ve always had.
The union disputes that in a statement on their website, claiming that the company is trying to push employees away from its health care plan and onto outside insurance including Medicaid.
Thomas says the company respects the workers’ right to strike as long as they do it peacefully, but they’ll protect workers who want to stay on the job.
And he says the company will stay open.
Thomas says they’re offering the workers what he calls the company’s last and best offer in hopes of avoiding a walk-off.