Post by title1parent on Jul 3, 2010 5:50:59 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/schools/2460050,2_1_AU03_STRIKE_S1-100703.article
WCC construction comes to halt as local laborers join strike
July 3, 2010
By STEPHANIE LULAY slulay@stmedianetwork.com
AURORA -- Commuters along the Eisenhower Expressway aren't the only ones seeing construction halted since laborers and heavy equipment operators went on strike Thursday.
Locally, the strike has put work on the downtown Aurora Waubonsee Community College campus and the college's Plano campus on hold, along with local bridge, road, sewer and water improvement projects in Kane and nine other counties.
Road map to strike
About 15,000 members of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, and the Laborers District Council of Chicago and Vicinity are on strike, affecting road projects in 10 counties. Thousands of members of other unions have refused to cross picket lines and are also idle.
• The unions want 15 percent health benefit increases over three years.
• Contracting companies offered 3.25 percent increases over three years.
• Hourly wages for carpenters, according to contractors, are as high as $40.77 an hour plus benefits.
• A flagger can make $32.50 an hour.
• The strike could cost the metropolitan region $50 million a week, counting private and government projects, according to contractors.
-- Sun Times Media
The Laborers District Council of Chicago and Vicinity voted to strike earlier this week, and workers were already striking at some locations Wednesday.
The unions seek wage package increases of 15 percent over three years, while companies have offered a 3-1/4 percent hike, according to Dennis Culloton, spokesman for the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association, which represents local contractors.
Ed Maher, spokesman for Operating Engineers Local 150, said unions are not seeking a net increase in pay, only increases to cover current health benefit costs.
In Aurora, workers were striking in front of the Waubonsee Community College campus under construction at 5 E. Galena Blvd.
Rodolfo Aguilar and Herman Ruiz, both of Aurora and members of Laborers Local 149, on Friday sat in front of signs reading "On strike for fair contract: Turner," the name of the construction company that is handling the Waubonsee projects.
Ozzie Gomez and Mannie Gomez, brothers from Sandwich and also Local 149 members, said the strike has halted the work they were doing on Chicago's Lower Wacker Drive.
"A couple of times we've gone into negotiations," Ozzie Gomez said. "MARBA always walks out. We've sent them numerous letters telling them we want to talk."
"We're really just looking for health care, for a contract," said Local 149 field representative Jose Martinez.
The current contract expired May 31.
Ozzie Gomez said the strike also affects other trade workers, because they won't cross the union's picket lines.
Waubonsee spokesman Jeff Noblitt said he does not expect the strike to affect the open date of either campus. Plano is scheduled to open Nov. 1 and the Aurora campus in August 2011.
Marisa Kollias, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation, said IDOT workers are securing project sites and will address any potential problems for motorists. She said IDOT is "hopeful" the labor issue will be resolved quickly.
Sun-Times Media contributed to the report.
WCC construction comes to halt as local laborers join strike
July 3, 2010
By STEPHANIE LULAY slulay@stmedianetwork.com
AURORA -- Commuters along the Eisenhower Expressway aren't the only ones seeing construction halted since laborers and heavy equipment operators went on strike Thursday.
Locally, the strike has put work on the downtown Aurora Waubonsee Community College campus and the college's Plano campus on hold, along with local bridge, road, sewer and water improvement projects in Kane and nine other counties.
Road map to strike
About 15,000 members of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, and the Laborers District Council of Chicago and Vicinity are on strike, affecting road projects in 10 counties. Thousands of members of other unions have refused to cross picket lines and are also idle.
• The unions want 15 percent health benefit increases over three years.
• Contracting companies offered 3.25 percent increases over three years.
• Hourly wages for carpenters, according to contractors, are as high as $40.77 an hour plus benefits.
• A flagger can make $32.50 an hour.
• The strike could cost the metropolitan region $50 million a week, counting private and government projects, according to contractors.
-- Sun Times Media
The Laborers District Council of Chicago and Vicinity voted to strike earlier this week, and workers were already striking at some locations Wednesday.
The unions seek wage package increases of 15 percent over three years, while companies have offered a 3-1/4 percent hike, according to Dennis Culloton, spokesman for the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association, which represents local contractors.
Ed Maher, spokesman for Operating Engineers Local 150, said unions are not seeking a net increase in pay, only increases to cover current health benefit costs.
In Aurora, workers were striking in front of the Waubonsee Community College campus under construction at 5 E. Galena Blvd.
Rodolfo Aguilar and Herman Ruiz, both of Aurora and members of Laborers Local 149, on Friday sat in front of signs reading "On strike for fair contract: Turner," the name of the construction company that is handling the Waubonsee projects.
Ozzie Gomez and Mannie Gomez, brothers from Sandwich and also Local 149 members, said the strike has halted the work they were doing on Chicago's Lower Wacker Drive.
"A couple of times we've gone into negotiations," Ozzie Gomez said. "MARBA always walks out. We've sent them numerous letters telling them we want to talk."
"We're really just looking for health care, for a contract," said Local 149 field representative Jose Martinez.
The current contract expired May 31.
Ozzie Gomez said the strike also affects other trade workers, because they won't cross the union's picket lines.
Waubonsee spokesman Jeff Noblitt said he does not expect the strike to affect the open date of either campus. Plano is scheduled to open Nov. 1 and the Aurora campus in August 2011.
Marisa Kollias, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation, said IDOT workers are securing project sites and will address any potential problems for motorists. She said IDOT is "hopeful" the labor issue will be resolved quickly.
Sun-Times Media contributed to the report.
