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Union says Pritzker office intervention at least temporarily prevented likely construction shutdown at migrant camp

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* Yesterday…

Migrant Camp Sight Target of Iron Workers Picket;
Construction Shutdown Likely

What:
On Thursday, November 30, Iron Workers Local 1 Union filed a notice of intention to picket the Brighton Park migrant camp site on Friday, December 1, which is currently under construction, due to the contractor’s failure to hire certified union ironworkers. The Iron Workers Local 1 Union’s picket line will likely be honored by other union workers, if any, on the site, causing them to lay down their tools and leading to a construction shutdown.

Who:

· Ken Davis, Business Agent, Iron Workers Local 1 Union
· John Gardiner, President, Iron Workers Local 1 Union
· Rank and file Iron Workers from Local 1 Union
· Scabby The Rat

Where:
Brighton Park, 2822 W. 38th Street, Chicago (corner of 38th and California)

When:
Friday, December 1, 2023; 6 a.m. – 2p.m.

Trade union members almost never cross a picket line, and there are plenty of other unions on that site. A picket would have likely shut the whole thing down.

* Today…

The following statement can be attributed to John Gardiner, President/Business Manager, Iron Workers Union Local 1:

“On Thursday, November 30, Iron Workers Union Local 1 filed a notice of intention to picket the Brighton Park migrant camp site on Friday, December 1, which is currently under construction, due to the contractor’s failure to hire certified union ironworkers. After receiving a call from the governor’s office last night, Thursday, the Iron Workers Local 1 agreed to a 24-hour pause on our picket to allow for negotiations. We paused our picket for 24-hours out of courtesy to the governor’s office. We met virtually this morning with multiple, high-level officials, and will continue to talk throughout the day.”

Apparently, nobody told the governor’s office in advance about the impending labor action until I sent them the union’s press release last night asking for comment.

…Adding… The mayor’s office has reached out to say they had “Multiple conversations on Thursday” with the governor’s office.

[Both releases had a date typo, so I was asked to update the post.]

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 11:11 am

Comments

The mayor did not demand a union workplace? He really is lost.

Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 11:16 am
Gov cleans up another one of the Mayor’s messes. Nice.

Comment by sure Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 11:34 am
The mayor’s office apparently did not know that ironworkers install fencing, forgetting all of the heavy streetscape fencing installed under the Daley II administration. BTW, ironworkers also install guardrail and place reinforcing steel, as well as lift beams into place.

Comment by Ares Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 11:37 am
LP is gonna be mad at Rich for being a tool of Big Labor.

Comment by don the legend Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 11:39 am
I thought the chief of staff for the mayor was held over for his 30 plus years in govt. Where is he on these matters. He may being ignored or he asleep at the switch.

Comment by Regular democrat Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 11:50 am
The mayor did not demand a union workplace? He really is lost.

Not Sure that the Mayor could insist on that - the contract was an extension of an existing state one.

“The Tribune reported Johnson’s administration said the contract allows the city to capitalize on an existing GardaWorld contract with the state and more quickly move hundreds of people out of police stations”

https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/09/20/chicago-signs-29-million-contract-to-build-tent-city-base-camps-for-migrants/

Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 11:51 am
Who knew the Mayor was a secret fan of the Turnaround Agenda?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:00 pm
Friday, December 30? What year is that? Today is Friday, December 1.

Comment by Anyone Remember Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:01 pm
===Apparently, nobody told the governor’s office in advance about the impending labor action until I sent them the union’s press release last night asking for comment. ===

They are so lucky you were working on a Thursday night.

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:12 pm
Scabby, Labor’s silent negotiator!

Comment by We've never had one before Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:15 pm
I am not so sure if it was an oversight by the Mayor’s office. If you saw this year’s session and subsequent Governor Vetos, I did not seem as if the Progressive Democratic Caucus was in step or really thinking about private sector organized labor

Comment by A Possible Method to the Madness Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:20 pm
The devil is in the details!

Comment by Jerry Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:20 pm
Fine and generous humanitarians those ironworkers.

Comment by Captain Obvious Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:22 pm
=== am not so sure if it was an oversight by the Mayor’s office===

Think about your conspiracy theory for one second. Why would the mayor deliberately try to shut down a project he’s had so much trouble getting off the ground AFTER construction has started?

The incompetence is staring you right in the face and you’re claiming this is some evil genius move against the trades that literally everyone would know would backfire horribly?

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:23 pm
Huh that explains why Alderman Gardiner got all that support from the iron workers despite the his lack of significant support for labor, his anti-housing stance, and the pathetic pace of development in his ward.

Comment by Sonny Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:23 pm
So it’s not like it was CTU members involved.

Comment by OneMan Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:28 pm
Now if only the governor would step into the IDOT and Teamsters negotiations…

Comment by Huh? Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:31 pm
Jeanette Taylor is right. This admin has no business being in the fifth floor. Absent of any miracles this is a one term administration and 10 year regression for the left in Chicago.

Comment by Let Old Friends Go Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:31 pm
DSA/CTU and Mayor Johnson are incapable of governing.

They are great at getting people mad, angering them and riling up their base, getting out the vote but doing the job and the work, to say incompetent is a kind word.

It’s getting proven almost on a daily. All the Mayor can do is whine and try to blame other people. It’s really sad.

Comment by Frida's boss Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:41 pm
Is Rich Guidice picking up all the rakes Brandon Johnson keeps stepping on? Sheesh (exclamation point)

Comment by Jocko Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:42 pm
What does Ald Gardiner have to do with the story. Its not his ward and he has been a staunch supporter of union labor. The guy has his shortcomings but supporting organized labor isnt one of them.

Comment by Regular democrat Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 12:50 pm
= They are great at getting people mad, angering them and riling up their base, getting out the vote but doing the job and the work, to say incompetent is a kind word.=

The exact same thing can be said of Republicans. Look at the Rawner regime for an example.

Comment by Jerry Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 1:01 pm
Back in my day there was no notice. The mayor and Governor should be grateful.

Comment by Old school red Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 1:11 pm
Brandon Johnson lived in a world of CTU organizing. That experience does not translate into the needs of a major city the size and complexity of Chicago.

Fortunately, we have JBP at the helm in our state to redirect to missteps of Chicago’s novice mayor Brandon Johnson. It might be time for JB to suggest that Brandon Johnson accept a few team members who could guide the city in a positive direction.

Brandon Johnson is in over his head. Each day and decision is another example of Johnson’s inability to manage and move the city forward.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 1:19 pm
@Jerry-”The exact same thing can be said of Republicans”

Could be but the post is not about the Republicans or Bruce Rauner.

It’s about another failure by the Johnson administration and piggybacks directly to an earlier post about one of the DSA crew fully admitting they should not occupy the 5th floor and are failing at governing.

But cool you brought up Rauner to try and deflect from the failure of Johnson.

Comment by Frida's boss Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 1:43 pm
Rather than picket, why not offer to pitch in and help while the legal issues are resolved?

Asylum seekers need immediate help. Delaying that help will literally cause harm.

Rather than causing a shutdown, how about demanding work and union wages right now alongside the non-union workers? This resolution would house the needy asylum seekers now at government cost, and allow suits to play out without direct human harm.

Comment by H-W Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 1:50 pm
- But cool you brought up Rauner to try and deflect from the failure of Johnson. -

Rauner’s failures have legs to stand alone…for decades.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 2:03 pm
- Rather than picket, why not offer to pitch in and help while the legal issues are resolved? -

Unions exist to protect workers, not management. Union agreements aren’t all that complicated if you have people in charge that are willing to read them.

A good leader figures these things out, as Pritzker demonstrated.

Comment by Excitable Boy Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 3:21 pm
@H.W.

I’m glad you’re not in charge of any Union.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Dec 1, 23 @ 3:45 pm