More than 8,000 Twin Cities construction workers are off the job as strikes spread among metro building trades unions.

The Cement Masons are the latest union joining the walkout. Local 633 business manager Larry Vee said members were on strike as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday after rejecting a contract offer Monday night. They join Painters Locals 61 and 386, which have been on strike since May 1, and Laborers Local 132, Iron Workers Local 512 and Bricklayers Local 1, which have gone on strike or started 'withholding services' since then.

Contracts between 10 construction trades, Associated General Contractors and a variety of specialized contractor associations expired April 30, though most unions have continued working. Even striking unions have been relatively invisible, with bannering taking place only at selected job sites. In addition, workers covered by project-labor agreements or interim contracts remain on the job.

Financial package falls short
Union business representatives say their members primarily are holding out for better financial packages. In addition, some contractors are seeking language that would permit four 10-hour workdays as the standard workweek.

Several unions already have rejected proposals that include financial packages 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.

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:

Bricklayers Local 1. Members rejected a contract proposal April 30, and currently are 'withholding services.' Further negotiations were scheduled this week. Local 1, which has jurisdiction over the entire state of Minnesota, has total active and retiree membership of about 3,450; a spokesman was uncertain how many members are directly affected by the current dispute.

Carpenters. Voting is scheduled May 23 on a tentative agreement covering commercial, residential and drywall contracts. Members rejected a previous offer 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 proposal remains at $1.60 per year, the new proposal is only three years in length, not four, and removes language on four 10-hours days.

Also, voting is scheduled May 17 on a tentative agreement covering the highway/heavy contract.

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 from worksites.

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. The contract affects about 600 members in 14 counties in the metro area.

Iron Workers Local 512. 'Withholding services' as of May 5. Contract affects about 1,200 members in the southern two-thirds of Minnesota and 14 counties in west-central Wisconsin.

Laborers Local 132. On strike as of May 7. Membership has yet to receive a contract offer to vote on. Contract affects 2,500-3,000 construction trades members in seven counties in the metro area.

Lathers Local 190. Contract affects about 175 members in the southern two-thirds of Minnesota and Wisconsin border communities. Members remain on the job.

Millwrights Local 548. 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.

The contracts affect about 1,200 members in Minnesota.

Painters Locals 61 and 386. On strike as of May 1 after members rejected a contract proposal in voting on April 25 and 26. In addition to monetary provisions, disputes continue over attempts to blend contracts so the same language covers both St. Paul and Minneapolis. The locals represent about 2,000 members in 14 counties in the metro area.

Plasterers Local 265. Contract expires May 31; negotiations scheduled to begin May 10. 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