BLOOMINGTON - About 40 Twin City ready mix drivers are back on the job with new contracts either agreed upon or close to ratification after a strike last week.

Bloomington's Teamsters Local 26's strike against Modahl & Scott in Bloomington and Twin Cities Ready Mix in Normal ended Thursday, and truckers returned to work Friday morning, said Teamsters President Pat Gleason.

Union workers ratified a new contract with Modahl & Scott by a nearly unanimous vote, Gleason said, declining to release the specific count.

The Teamsters union wanted to close the $1.50 pay gap between what Modahl & Scott and Bloomington's McLean County Asphalt & Concrete drivers earned. Accounting for wages and bonuses, they achieved that goal in the first year of the contract; by the third year, the difference will be covered by wages alone, Gleason said.

Denny Oedewaldt, Central Illinois regional manager for Modahl & Scott, said business is back to usual.

"It's part of negotiations. We got to an agreement," Oedewaldt said.

Resolution coming soon for Twin Cities Ready Mix

The issue with Twin Cities Ready Mix should be resolved within the next week, Gleason said.

He expects all of their complaints, which also included salary, health and welfare, will be addressed to the union's satisfaction.

A representative for Twin Cities Ready Mix declined comment.