The Carpenters, Cement Masons, Laborers and Lathers all ratified new contracts this week, providing the first significant break in the largest job dispute involving Twin Cities building trades in 20 years.

However, the Operating Engineers rejected a contract proposal Thursday - the second time they have done so - and Painters Locals 61 and 386, Iron Workers Local 512 and Bricklayers Local 1 all remained off the job heading into the Memorial Day weekend.

As many as 8,000 construction workers have been on strike at various points since contracts expired April 30 between 10 unions, Associated General Contractors and a variety of specialized contractor associations.

But most of the unions have continued working without a contract or under interim agreements, as have workers covered by project-labor agreements.

Even among striking trades, the dispute has remained relatively invisible, with picketing taking place only at contractors' shops and selected job sites. On many jobs, striking unions were 'withholding services,' which means their members don't work but don't picket, either. That allows other trades to remain on the job.

Financial packages come around
Union business representatives say their members basically were holding out for better financial packages.

Several unions rejected initial proposals that offered increases of $1.60 per year for four years. In the building trades, such increases typically are carved up among hourly wages, health insurance, pension and other benefits.

Recent proposals from contractors have increased the financial packages by about 25 cents. The Carpenters approved a three-year commercial, residential and drywall contract that provides increases of $1.85, $1.85 and $1.80. The Cement Masons and Lathers approved three-year commercial contracts with the same amounts, and the Masons approved a four-year highway/heavy contract with increases of $1.85, $1.85, $1.80 and $1.80.

Even those deals, however, are short of the settlements made last year with the Electricians. Local 110 in St. Paul, for example, ratified a contract with increases of $2.25 in 2000, $2.20 in 2001, $2.15 in 2002 and a wage opener in the final year.

The job actions are the first widespread strikes among building trades since 1981. That spring, strikes by the Bricklayers and Iron Workers, among others, idled construction for a month. Later, a Carpenters strike shut down job sites for two-and-a-half weeks in July.

A status report :

Bricklayers Local 1. Members rejected a contract proposal April 30, and currently are 'withholding services.' Negotiators met May 14 and 'we're making progress,' said business representative Michael Cook.

Carpenters Locals 87, 851 and 1644 and Pile Drivers Local 1847. Approved the three-year contract covering commercial, residential and drywall work by a vote of 1,631-972 on May 23. Pay increases are retroactive. Carpenters leadership said that if the contract had been rejected, a strike was authorized to begin May 29.

In addition, Carpenters will vote statewide on a highway/heavy contract May 31. An earlier vote May 17 was inconclusive. That four-year proposal offered increases of $1.85, $1.85, $1.80 and $1.80.

Elsewhere in the state, the Carpenters have ratified separate four-year contracts for Rochester and surrounding counties, St. Cloud, Mankato, and western Minnesota. Increases range from $4.55 to $5.60 over the life of the contracts.

Cement Masons Local 633. Ratified the commercial contract May 21 and the highway/heavy contract May 23. Pay is retroactive. Business manager Larry Vee said the contracts also offered language improvements that pay overtime after 8 hours instead of 10, and pay time-and-a-half for Saturday work.

Members had walked off the job May 7 but returned to work May 17 after reaching the tentative agreements that members ratified.

Iron Workers Local 512. On strike as of May 5. The last negotiating session was held May 18. Business representative Rich Frahm said: 'We were not able to get a settlement. In the meantime, it's status quo. We're picketing some projects and withholding services on others.'

Laborers Local 132 and 563. Ratified a new agreement in voting May 24 among members of Local 563 and May 17 among members of Local 132. The three-year deal provides general increases of $1.65, $1.65 and $1.60.

The Laborers had walked off the job May 7, but resumed work May 14 after reaching the agreement that members ratified. Unofficial results show the contract was approved by a roughly 2-1 margin.

Lathers Local 190. The three-year contract, ratified by a 7-1 margin May 24, provides general increases of $1.85, $1.85 and $1.80, said business representative Larry Anderson. Members remained on the job during the dispute.

Millwrights Local 548. Members remain on the job.

Operating Engineers Local 49. Members remain on the job despite rejecting a builders contract May 24 and an earlier offer May 5. The local has not released details of either offer or of the votes.

In April, the local did ratify a contract for the 100 or so members who do highway work. Again, details of the contract have not been released.

Painters Locals 61 and 386. On strike as of May 1, after members rejected a four-year contract proposal April 25 and 26. However, several rounds of negotiations took place this week, during which the locals agreed to take another proposal back to members.

The vote on a painters contract is scheduled for June 1; the vote on a drywall and finishers contract is scheduled for June 2.

Disputes, in addition to general increases, have centered on blending contracts so the same language covers St. Paul and Minneapolis. Business manager Mike Gavanda said members are conducting selective picketing 'wherever they're trying to do our work.'

Plasterers Local 265. The contract expires May 31; the first negotiating session was held May 15.

Michael Kuchta is editor of The Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. This article is updated from one written for the May 23 issue. Used by permission. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org