LEONARD GRAY

PHOTO: WORKERS MAN A PICKET LINE to protest their pay rate on the Mississippi River levee, in front of Compass Condo in Ama. Manager Wally Ledet came out later and persuaded them to return to work Thursday. (Staff Photo by Leonard Gray) AMA – A short strike at a barge-cleaning service ended Wednesday after only a few hours. when management negotiated a return to work plan. Wally Ledet, manager at Compass Condo at 10400 River Road, said he was called at home that morning and told 18-20 of his workers were picketing the business on River Road. The workmen were protesting their $6 per hour pay rate, pushing for more money for the unskilled laborer position. “It’s just not enough money,” said laborer Carl Lee, who has worked at the business for two years. “Some barges, you go down and you can’t stand the smell. They’re just not paying us anything.” On the other hand, Ledet said, the pay scale is the going rate for that job and, after talking with the protesters alongside the road, “they went back to work, smooth as can be.” The work itself involves hosing out and scrubbing grain barges, working long hours. On the day of the protest, nine barges were awaiting cleaning. Ledet said the workers earn overtime pay and are provided with safety equipment, such as gas masks to screen out inhaling grain dust. They also receive work boots, bonus pay and are even treated to a barbecue at every monthly safety meeting. The workers also earn a paid vacation and the company pays three-quarters of the workers’ insurance premiums. “It’s a hard and nasty job,” Ledet said. “But they’re all good people.” When he arrived at the picket line, Ledet addressed the workers, and told them if they had a problem they could always talk to him. “I’ll work with you and try to make it better but I’m not guaranteeing anything,” Ledet told the picketers. “This isn’t the way to do it.” The company usually handles 200 barges per week, Ledet continued. “It definitely surprised me,” he said of the job action. “All they had to do was talk to me.”