Roofers Local 96 and Pipefitters Locals 455 and 539 remain on strike in the Twin Cities, while Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 and Sign and Display Local 880 continue to work despite contracts that expired April 30.

Building Trades employees at the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campuses ratified a new three-year contract May 9.

The contract covers all crafts and affects 320-400 workers at the university, depending on the season, said Dick Anfang, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council. It replaces one that expired Jan. 9.

The contract guarantees wages consistent with the area standard for each craft, Anfang said. It also establishes uniform holidays and upgrades shift differential, he said.

A rundown on other contracts:

Pipefitters Local 455 and 539
The locals intend to hold membership meetings on May 24 in anticipation of voting on a new proposal out of negotiations that were scheduled for the day before.

Most members remain off the job and are picketing commercial contractors' shops since going on strike May 7. However, both locals continue to perform most residential service work, to work at job sites with project-labor agreements, and to staff contractors who have signed interim agreements.

Members have rejected previous three-year proposals from the Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association that would have provided general increases of $2.25 a year. In the Building Trades, such increases typically are divided among hourly wages, health insurance for active and retired workers, pension and other benefits.

Local 455 represents about 985 active members in Ramsey and four other east metro counties. Local 539 represents about 1,100 active members in Hennepin, Anoka and seven other west metro counties.

In addition, Local 539 represents an additional 100 members in a separate contract outstate, said business manager Charley Fritze. That contract also expired April 30.

Roofers Local 96
The union is considering enlisting the help of a federal mediator as negotiations with the Twin City Roofing Contractors Association continue to go nowhere, said Local 96 business representative Harry Johnson.

The union has been on strike since May 1 after members rejected a two-year contract offering general increases of $1.85 and $1.80. Johnson said the contractors essentially have not budged from that proposal.

The local represents about 1,000 members in the metro area. Members are working only at jobs covered by project-labor agreements.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 10
Except for honoring Pipefitters picket lines, the nearly 2,400 members of Local 10 have remained on the job in 11 metro counties - despite twice rejecting three-year contract proposals from the Sheet Metal and Roofing Contractors Association. The most recent proposal would have provided annual increases of $2.26, $2.30 and $2.35 an hour.

A negotiating session May 20 produced little movement, said business representative Rich Leitschuh. A membership meeting scheduled for May 22 was 'informational at this point,' he said. 'There's no new proposal to vote on.'

Authority to call a strike rests with the local's leadership. 'Right now, we just don't know what will happen,' he said.

Sign, Display and Allied Trades Local 880
The local's 70 members remain on the job while negotiations continue on a new metro-area master contract for the sign industry, said business manager Paul Richards. Under contract provisions, if a settlement is not reached, the union will proceed to binding arbitration rather than a strike, Richards said.

On the horizon
Two other unions - Asbestos Workers 34 and Sprinkler Fitters Local 417 - remain in negotiations to replace contracts that expire May 31.

Local 34 has scheduled a membership meeting for 7 a.m. May 31 at the Machinists Labor Temple, 1399 Eustis St., Saint Paul, in anticipation of voting on a contract proposal from the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association. The local represents about 365 active members in southern Minnesota and nine Wisconsin counties.

Local 417 represents 400 members in Ramsey, Hennepin, Anoka, Dakota, Washington and Scott counties, said business manager Jim Kelzenberg. The local is negotiating with Area 15 Contractors.

This article was written for the May 23, 2002, issue of The Union Advocate newspaper. Used by permission. The Union Advocate is the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org