One of Mason City’s largest employers, Holcim Cement, has avoided a strike.Union members approved a new seven-year contract Wednesday by an 88-9 vote. The contract gives employees a three-and-a-half percent pay raise in the first year and a three percent pay raise every year after that. PACE local president Michael Dunn also says employees will also continue to receive overtime pay after eight hours, Sunday premium pay, and double-time pay when called out. Both sides reached an agreement on the new contract at about 3 o’clock Wednesday morning, with the ratification votes taking place during two meetings yesterday. Union members had give negotiators approval to call a strike if an agreement was not reached when the old contract expired at midnight Wednesday night.
