HONOLULU -- More than 140 Ameron Hawaii concrete workers went on strike at 12:01 a.m. Friday. About 100 more workers at Hawaii Cement plan another strike Saturday morning.

The union said the companies are demanding that workers pay a bigger share of their health care premium. Workers said they are willing to strike to prevent that.

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Workers Picket Construction Halts

Contract talks broke off on Monday and no new talks are scheduled.

Although operations on Oahu are shut down, Ameron's ready-mix and quarry operations on Maui will continue as usual because its workers on the Valley Isle belong to a different union.

Ameron has already told its customers that it will not be shipping any concrete Friday.

Talks between Hawaiian Cement and the Teamsters Union were called off at about 10 p.m. Thursday. Union leaders now say a strike is imminent.

Negotiators for both parties met for about three and a half hours before calling it quits.

Hawaiian Cement said both sides are in agreement on many issues, but are still far apart on the certain items of the workers benefits package. Hawaiian Cement wants to increase its employees' medical co-payment and reduce the amount of sick days.

Teamsters' Union leader, Mel Kahele, said that's unacceptable.

"We're concerned about the welfare of our members here. The company still has its proposals on the table regarding take backs. We're not going to tolerate that. We're going on strike Saturday morning at 12:01."

"To have successful negotiations, there has to be movement on both sides. And from our standpoint, there was no movement from the union. The company is ready and willing to meet at any time either at the call of the mediator or the union," said Michael Coad of Hawaiian Cement.

This will not be the first time Hawaiian Cement workers have gone on strike. Workers walked the picket line in 1984, 1988 and 1992.

There are no new talks scheduled. A strike on Oahu would not affect thw operations Big Island's West Hawaii Concrete operations.

An extended strike at both companies would be devastating to Oahu's construction industry. Almost all new construction projects need concrete.

With concrete workers off the job, hundreds of other construction workers would eventually be laid off if the strike lasts. New homes and projects would be delayed and developers could lose millions of dollars.