Lane Construction, union reach settlement

BANGOR – A contract deal has been reached between Lane Construction and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, ending the possibility of a union strike against the company.

James Carson, president of Teamsters Local 340 in South Portland, said Monday that the company and the union have agreed on what kind of benefit increases the company’s truck drivers will receive. The two sides settled on benefit increases totaling $2.43 an hour over a three-year contract period, he said.

The union nearly went on strike against Lane late last month but at the last second agreed to keep working when Gov. John Baldacci offered to mediate the dispute.

Carson said the union represents about 70 of the company’s truck drivers. Lane Construction has operations in 15 states and employs about 4,500 people during peak construction season, according to the company’s Web site.