ALBANY - Drivers of concrete trucks began returning to work Tuesday following a one-week strike against three area companies after their earlier contract expired.

Members of Teamsters Local 294 approved a new four-year agreement by a nearly two-to-one margin, the union said Tuesday. More than 100 union members had walked off the job July 9 at Cranesville Management Co., Callanan Industries Inc. and Bonded Concrete.

Callanan operates Clemente Latham Concrete in Troy and Valente Gravel in Wynantskill.

This was the first walkout by drivers since 2000. The new contract provides "strong increases" in wages, according to the union, as well as boosts in pension and health care contributions.

"Our members were committed to staying out as long as it took to let the management at these three companies know that we were serious," said John Bulgaro, president of Local 294, in a prepared statement. "They stuck to their guns to protect their families' futures."