* From the Chicago Area Aggregate Producers Association, which has just three very large corporate members…

On June 7, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 began a strike against three companies that make up the Chicago Area Aggregate Producers Association: Vulcan Materials, Lehigh Hanson and Lafarge.

As the strike continues, it is important for union members, customers, stakeholders and the public to know the facts. Below is a statement from CAAPA to set the record straight:

“It is unfortunate that Local 150 decided to strike and that union leaders have been providing misleading information about the situation.

We reached out to Local 150 on March 1 to begin contract negotiations and were in contact with the union throughout the spring. Local 150 did not agree to sit down for talks until after the contract expired on April 30 and almost immediately decided to strike. Local 150 still has not presented a wage and benefit proposal despite multiple requests.

Local 150 has made unfounded claims regarding safety issues and using unskilled replacement workers. These allegations are simply not true. Our trained and experienced management employees are working to support our customers to minimize disruption to their businesses.

The strike not only jeopardizes essential infrastructure needs that impact roads, bridges and flood-prevention projects, it also increases costs for taxpayers during this shortened construction season.
We remain committed to finding a path forward that is mutually beneficial, and we are hopeful our continued negotiations at the bargaining table bring our employees back to work soon.”

* Meanwhile, here’s a press release issued Tuesday…

This morning, leaders from the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police and Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 issued statements in support of the striking members of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150.

More than 300 IUOE Local 150 members went on strike on June 7th against construction material producer companies Lehigh Hanson, Vulcan Materials, and Lafarge Holcim in protest of unfair labor practice charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board.

“Hard working men and women deserve to be treated with dignity at work,” said Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood. “We stand in solidarity with the striking members of IUOE Local 150 and call on these companies to prioritize these workers’ health, safety, and rights on the job.”

“The officers of the Chicago FOP stand with Local 150 members as they exercise their right to peacefully strike in the wake of their employers’ alleged unfair labor practices,” said Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara. “The men and women of the FOP understand the power of collective action to bring progress on the job and call upon these employers to negotiate in good faith and work with the union to reach a resolution that is fair and equitable for their workers.”

The Illinois FOP is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing over 33,000 active duty and retired police officers – more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 represents officers of the Chicago Police Department.

* The day before that Tuesday press released was issued, the Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor Management PAC, which is heavily influenced by Local 150, put $10K into the United Working Taxpayers PAC. That committee had previously been funded solely by the Chicago FOP and, as subscribers know, had sent out a negative mailer against a couple of Democratic state legislators that 150 supports, but the FOP opposes…

The FOP is a PAC, just like this PAC Casper setup. They could have sent the mailers. Why all the runaround?

The FOP knows Dems reading a negative mailer from the MAGA FOP isn't going to land with a lot of voters. But "United Working Taxpayers"? That has a veneer of legitimacy.

— The People's Fabric (@peoplesfabric) June 9, 2022

It also allows the Chicago FOP to get around the contribution caps since the group was nearly at that cap for Chicago police detective and Republican activist Erin Jones, who’s running against Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago) in the Democratic primary.

The United Working Taxpayers PAC has not yet disclosed spending that money, but it recently disclosed spending cash in a bevy of races, including for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez’s state central committee contest and on behalf of Carmen Navarro, who has since been removed from the ballot for county sheriff. Those are/were both Chicago FOP peeps. The FOP/Operators-funded PAC has also reported spending $19K against state Rep. Delia Ramirez in her congressional primary against Ald. Gil Villegas.

This story gets even more complicated, but I’m going to wait for a bit on that.

…Adding… Ed Maher from Local 150…

Hi Rich,

The contribution to UWT was made in support of Election Day activities for candidates that we’ve endorsed. Nothing more to it than that.

Police have often voiced support for Local 150 and other unions during strikes. Employers will frequently call police on striking workers or union representatives on picket lines, but we are extremely thorough in educating our members and staff on laws that apply to picketing in order to ensure that all picket lines and strike activity are conducted peacefully and in accordance with applicable laws.