Spotty progress is being made in the biggest contract dispute involving Twin Cities' building trades unions in 20 years.

As many as 8,000 construction workers have been off the job at various points this month since contracts expired April 30 between 10 unions, Associated General Contractors and a variety of specialized contractor associations. Only one contract has been ratified to this point - and it covers only 100 Operating Engineers who do highway work.

Several of the construction unions have continued working without a contract or under interim agreements, but Cement Masons Local 633, Painters Locals 61 and 386, Iron Workers Local 512 and Bricklayers Local 1 all remained on strike as of press time.

Members of Laborers Locals 132 and 563 walked off the job May 7, but returned to work May 14 after reaching a tentative agreement that members are scheduled to vote on May 17.

The Carpenters, Cement Masons and Lathers also have proposals awaiting membership votes.

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

In addition, workers covered by project-labor agreements have continued working.

Union business representatives say their members basically are holding out for better financial packages.

Several unions already have rejected proposals that include financial 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.

Business reps say their members point out that the $1.60 proposal is far short of the settlements made last year with the Electricians. Local 110 in St. Paul, for example, ratified a four-year contract with increases of $2.25 in 2000, $2.20 in 2001, $2.15 in 2002 and a wage opener in the final year.

Some of the more recent offers from contractors have improved upon the $1.60 offer.

The job actions are the first widespread strikes among building trades since 1981, business reps say. 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.

Current status reports (as of May 16)

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. Negotiators were attempting to schedule another session before the end of the week.

Local 1, which has jurisdiction over the entire state of Minnesota, has total active and retiree membership of about 3,450; the union says it is uncertain how many members are directly affected by the current dispute.

Carpenters. Voting is scheduled May 17 on a tentative agreement covering the highway/heavy contract and May 23 on an offer covering commercial, residential and drywall contracts. Members rejected a previous contract proposal April 26 by a 3-1 margin.

Patrick Bristol, executive secretary of the Lakes and Plains Regional Council of Carpenters, said that although the wage increase in the latest commercial, residential and drywall proposal remains at $1.60 per year, the new proposal is only three years in length, not four, and removes language that would permit four 10-hour days as the standard workweek..

The contracts affect 7,250 members of Carpenters Locals 87, 851 and 1644 and Pile Drivers Local 1847 in 12 counties of the Twin Cities metro area. Members remain on the job, but have been advised to remove their belongings daily.

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. On strike after rejecting a contract proposal May 7. However, Local 633 is voting next week on separate tentative agreements covering the builders and highway/heavy portions of their work. Business manager Larry Vee said the three-year builders offer includes general increases of $1.85, $1.85 and $1.80, as well as additional increases in foreman's pay. He said members would vote on the builders contract May 21 and the highway contract May 23.

The contracts affect about 600 members in 14 counties in the metro area.

Iron Workers Local 512. On strike as of May 5. Business representative Rich Frahm said negotiations were scheduled for May 16. 'We're picketing some projects and withholding services on others,' he said.

The contract affects about 1,200 members in the southern two-thirds of Minnesota and 14 counties in west-central Wisconsin.

Laborers Local 132 and 563. Back on the job pending a membership vote May 17 on a tentative three-year agreement that offers general increases of $1.65, $1.65 and $1.60. The new offer also includes time-and-a-half vacation pay, increases in foreman pay, and does not seek 10-hour workdays.

A spokesman said the Laborers took the unusual step of returning to work pending ratification as 'a good-faith thing with the contractors.'

The contract affects 2,500-3,000 construction trades members in seven counties in the metro area.

Lathers Local 190. Members will be voting May 24 on a three-year proposal with general increases of $1.60 each year, said business representative Larry Anderson. Until then, members remain on the job.

The contract affects about 175 members in the southern two-thirds of Minnesota and Wisconsin border communities.

Millwrights Local 548. The contract affects about 600 members in southern Minnesota and South Dakota. Members remain on the job.

Operating Engineers Local 49. The union ratified a highway/heavy contract April 17, but has not released details. On May 5, members rejected a separate contract with builders, but they remain on the job, said business manager Fred Dereschuk. Additional negotiations were scheduled for May 17.

The contracts affect about 1,200 members in Minnesota.

Painters Locals 61 and 386. On strike as of May 1 after members rejected a four-year contract proposal April 25 and 26. In addition to general increases, which were pegged at $1.60 per year, disputes continue over blending contracts so the same language covers both St. Paul and Minneapolis.

No negotiations have taken place and none are scheduled, said business manager Mike Gavanda. 'Nobody wants to meet more than we do,' he said, 'but they say the offer is the offer.' Members are conducting selective picketing 'wherever they're trying to do our work,' Gavanda said.

The locals represent about 2,000 members in 14 counties in the metro area.

Plasterers Local 265. The contract expires May 31; the first negotiating session was held May 15. The contract affects about 210 members in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties and 14 surrounding counties.

Michael Kuchta is the editor of The Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org

Related article

Strikes spread in building trades