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Local 150 says strike will likely force shutdown of asphalt plants this week

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Illinois

* Background is here if you need it. I asked Ed Maher from Local 150 of the Operating Engineers Union about the strike…

Hi Rich, we remain on strike against Lehigh Hanson, Vulcan Materials and Lafarge Holcim. They continue bringing in replacements, but shortages of material will likely cause asphalt plants to shut down this week, beginning to impact projects through the region.

We have reached an agreement with all other material producers, aside from the three we remain on strike against.

We have offered to meet to negotiate with these companies at any time, they are currently refusing to schedule any dates for bargaining, indicating that they will just continue to bring in replacements.

So far, unskilled replacement workers have damaged or destroyed multiple pieces of heavy equipment, flipped at least two trucks, and attracted a host of MSHA citations and fines.

These miners are skilled professionals, and their employers will find they are not so easy to replace.

* Asked for a response, the Chicago Area Aggregate Producers Association sent along these dot points…

Q: What is this strike about?
A: We don’t know. The Chicago Area Aggregate Producers Association (CAAPA) has been trying to get to the real issues since March 1, 2022, when we made the first of many requests to meet with the Union. The Union still has not even presented a wage and benefits proposal to consider. We have been negotiating in good faith.

Q: When did contract talks commence?
A: Local 150 did not agree to meet with the Association until after the contract expired on April 30. The Union also refused to extend the terms of the Agreement to avoid a work stoppage. The Union and CAAPA members had three meetings before they went on strike.

Q: Do CAAPA members treat their employees fairly?
A: Absolutely. CAAPA members work hard to treat their employees fairly and they value employee safety, health and well-being. Through industry-leading trainings and protocols, they ensure employees are equipped to do their jobs safely. CAAPA members also offer very competitive benefits. Local 150 members pay no premiums for their health insurance coverage – CAAPA members pay 100% of the costs. Local 150 members also have access to a comfortable pension plan and other savings opportunities.

Q: Are CAAPA members busing in outside replacement workers at their facilities?
A: No replacement workers have been bused in. Buses seen on site have been there for reasons completely unrelated to the strike activity.

Q: Did Lehigh Hanson fly-in replacement workers?
A: No, not at this time. The company has hired a national security firm to protect its properties. The security professionals are wearing hard hats and safety vests, just as required of others on site. They are not performing work that Local 150-represented employees perform.

Q: Are the operators using strike breakers on site to load trucks?
A: No. CAAPA members have relied on supervisory and management employees when necessary to serve customers. These employees have been Mine Safety & Health Administration task trained to do these tasks safely.

* Related…

* Quarry Strike Slows Down Westchester Roadwork

* Strike Delays Big Western Springs Project

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 11:45 am

Comments

==Q: What is this strike about?
A: We don’t know.==

Always good to start out with the bald-faced lie, as it lets me know how to approach the rest of the text.

Comment by Roadrager Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 11:58 am
If you side says red, the other says blue - which is true? Who is doing the reporting here to find out if replacement workers are on site and causing accidents? Seems like if there are MSHA fines, etc., there would be a record of it right?

Comment by DeeLay Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 11:59 am
2 totally different takes.

Wadda surprise.

Bu somebody seems to be shading some ‘facts’

Comment by sal-says Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 11:59 am
==Q: What is this strike about?
A: We don’t know.==
Strike? What Strike?
Everything is fine.
We don’t know why nobody is coming to work?
/S

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 12:09 pm
Well, LaFarge is facing charges of financing terrorism in Syria, so I’m guessing this bout of bad press is nothing for their PR folks. Sheesh…

Comment by McGuppin Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 12:13 pm
I would think Gary Rabine would have something to say about this, one way or the other.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 12:14 pm
== No replacement workers have been bused in. Buses seen on site have been there for reasons completely unrelated to the strike activity. ==

Figure 8 bus races? Someone is working on a reboot of the film Evel Knievel?

Comment by OneMan Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 12:18 pm
Are there bigger hogs in Springfield than 150

Comment by Ty Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 12:41 pm
If road construction is diminished/halted, what is the $ upside to the Illinois Road Fund?

Comment by Occam Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 1:06 pm
Good thing they didn’t bring in replacement workers then, with a heat wave moving in with temperatures predicted to be over 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Comment by Da big bad wolf Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 1:16 pm
@Ty - Jimmy Hoffa (Wherever he is) is certainly jealous of the power of the 150.

Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 2:38 pm
IUOE Local 965 is on Strike with them also here locally

Comment by Infamous Monday, Jun 13, 22 @ 4:32 pm
We’ll just leave this right here…
https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/union-boss-knew-sexual-harassment-demoted-accuser-lawsuit

Comment by MeToo Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 8:21 am