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* From Jim Sweeney, a member of the state Tollway Board and president of Local 150 of the Operating Engineers Union…
Governor has Tollway vote to eliminate Project Labor Agreement on all work going forward! 5 to 3.
PLA’s are at least partly designed to ensure labor peace.
Crazy times coming, folks.
*** UPDATE *** Daily Herald…
In January 1994, the tollway instituted a multi-project labor agreement requiring that collective bargaining agreements be applied to all tollway projects.
With a vote of 6-3 Thursday, the board rescinded that effective May 1. The change will affect future contracts, not existing ones.
The tollway is in the midst of a massive $12 billion building program with work on the Jane Addams (I-90) and Elgin-O’Hare Expressway (Route 390) going on simultaneously.
Sweeney recalled a construction strike in 2010 involving a number of building trades unions. Tollway work continued because of the multi-project labor agreement, he said, noting workers were bound to cross picket lines.
Tollway administrators said the change didn’t mean the agency wouldn’t be hiring unions, but their actions did reflect the governor’s comments and discussions with his staff.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 10:38 am
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Will there be labor peace on the Route 53 Tollway in Lake County? I know it’s not an official project yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Rauner muscles it through for his allies.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 10:43 am
This will be fun to watch as the tollway continues to struggle to bring projects in on time and under budget
Comment by Anonin' Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 10:43 am
“Pick a side” - Bruce Rauner.
I am with 150.
“Then business will have to suffer…”
Oh, it will Governor “Cor-Lee-Own-Eee”, it will.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 10:46 am
The Rauner Administration started this front during the first week of the administration by removing the PLA requirement for Capital Development Board Projects.
A silent but deadly type of approach.
Comment by Red Rover Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 10:50 am
PLAs have some pretty serious side effects for the consulting engineers who provide the construction plans for the Tollway. This is good news for them.
Comment by Birdseed Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 10:55 am
In other words, Tollway projects will be subject to strikes when Rauner gets his appointees in control of the board and starts playing games with bringing in non-union contractors. Who likes efficient construction anyway? Be careful what you wish for, Governor.
Comment by Gabe Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 10:57 am
It really is war on unions. On many fronts.
Not just about “government union leaders” as claimed.
Comment by walker Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:05 am
The Tollway PLA sure didn’t keep union peace on Tollway work when 150 went on strike in 2010.
Comment by phocion Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:07 am
One problem in opening up a new front in a war is that it creates additional enemies that strain your resources. Gov Sonny wants to conquer all unions, so all unions need to focus on stopping him.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:09 am
–The Tollway PLA sure didn’t keep union peace on Tollway work when 150 went on strike in 2010.–
Phocion - it certainly did. 290 got shut down, but Tollway work kept right on going.
Comment by Gabe Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:10 am
@Norseman–yup. “Unintended consequences” comin’ down the pike. …
Comment by Crispy Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:11 am
===Gov Sonny wants to conquer all unions, so all unions need to focus on stopping him.===
That’s the deal;
Rauner fighting the individual “battles” and “enemies”… Unions must… must understand… they ALL have a single enemy, and they need to understand a coordinated effort needs to be made.
Or else.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:14 am
Gabe, you’re mistaken. In fact, I recall Rich Miller gleefully writing that the impact of the strike on Tollway work resulted in management capitulating to union demands, ending the strike. Sweeney just wanted to keep a poorly drafted PLA in place so he could have it both ways.
Comment by phocion Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:20 am
The January IDOT construction letting had 25 projects with PLA agreements (probably already in the pipeline and too late to stop without delaying). The March and April IDOT lettings had exactly zero projects with advertised PLA’s.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:28 am
phocion, you’re mistaken. Construction on the tollway continued, and those workers did not go on strike. What ended up happening though was that the contractors started having issues getting some supplies because of impacts from the strike, so there ended up being a work slowdown, but not a stoppage.
Comment by Juice Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:37 am
@Birdseed. Not sure what you mean. How do PLAs affect engineers?
Comment by Bogey Golfer Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:45 am
PLAs are unilateral surrenders to organized labor. We somehow survived without them prior to Blagojevich. I think we’ll survive again.
Comment by Downstate Illinois Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:54 am
The PLA on the tollway required that contractors be signatory to a current contract. With the expiration of tshe contract, there was none. This was due to the larger contractors thinking there would never be a strike, and that they could squeeze smaller contractors out of biz becuase during the strike, they would not have the cash flow to keep going.
In 150’s jurisdiction where the tollway runs, not a lot of need for PLAs. They comtrol,enough of the work that they can strike and be effective.
Bring in a non-union crane and watch the pickets go up. Then watch the concrete trucks pile up or the iron workers walk off.
Its gonna be fun
Comment by Todd Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 12:42 pm
Rauner is a governor who sows disunion.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 12:43 pm
Wow.. Just Wow… I should just cut and paste… It’s clear the Gov feels the majority of the citizens feel we are better off without unions. That is the only conclusion to all of these issues .
Comment by Walter Mitty Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:02 pm
I do believe he will not bow to the Unions when negotiation time comes. If they strike, he not be hesitant to point the finger at them.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:05 pm
==== - Bogey Golfer - Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:45 am:
@Birdseed. Not sure what you mean. How do PLAs affect engineers? ====
Many times the non-union consultants (especially those doing Phase III construction observation) also have to sign the PLAs. Those PLAs require union dues and pensions costs be covered. Most private consulting firms don’t have “pensions”, but after they enter the PLA they do. A junior surveyor or technician normally making $25/hour might cost the firm $40/hour or more if you are in the PLA.
Comment by Birdseed Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:34 pm
At the end of Gov. Sonny’s 4 year run, he might just go down as one of the WORST governors this state has ever elected. Has no idea how to bring different interests together to get things done for the good of the state. None.
Comment by Big Joe Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:39 pm
Bruce Rauner’s monomaniacal, paranoid obsession with crushing labor has ever-so slowly drifted into General Jack D. Ripper territory…
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:40 pm
Juice is correct.
“Construction crews on the tollway system are showing up for work. The problem is that the construction companies they work for cannot obtain the materials and equipment they need because union drivers are honoring the picket lines of striking laborers outside asphalt plants, concrete-mix facilities and quarries, officials said.”
https://capitolfax.com/2010/07/17/saturday-update-strike-ends-on-some-big-projects/
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:40 pm
Rich Miller, 2010: “They didn’t have PLAs on the big IDOT projects. They had them on the tollway and they kept working pretty much, except when they couldn’t get supplies.”
https://capitolfax.com/2010/07/20/quinns-push-ends-strike/#comment-11064349
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:42 pm
Well all union workers who voted for Rauner are going to get karma.
Comment by karma Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:46 pm
==- phocion - Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:20 am:==
Here are three links relating to when the strike ended at some sites. the 1:42pm link I posted is about the end of the strike overall. None of them feature Rich “gleefully writing that the impact of the strike on Tollway work resulted in management capitulating to union demands.” You just made that up.
1) https://capitolfax.com/2010/07/14/this-just-in-strikers-reach-agreement-with-some-employers/
2) https://capitolfax.com/2010/07/15/this-just-in-more-divide-and-conquer-by-road-strikers/
3) https://capitolfax.com/2010/07/17/saturday-update-strike-ends-on-some-big-projects/
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Rauner is fighting on all fronts the union conspiracy to sap and inpurify all our precious bodily fluids.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:57 pm
Mentally insert “unions” at the appropriate points.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-roBPhD-G3U
Hat Tip to MrJM for the insightful reference.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 2:22 pm
To the update: That escalated quickly.
Comment by Walter Mitty Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 2:56 pm
Sorry Juice and PC, but I stand by my assertion. The Tollway PLA did not ultimately prevent a labor dispute from impacting Tollway work. Your archived articles underscore that (great research, by the way).
Question, though. How is it that the head of a labor union which is a signatory to a contract with the Tollway (i.e. the PLA) gets to vote on that contract as a Tollway Board member? Can anyone say “conflict of interest” ?
Comment by phocion Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 3:26 pm
A lot of teeth gnashing over the prospect of the gravy train coming to an end.
Comment by Nick Danger Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 3:53 pm
==- phocion - Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 3:26 pm:==
== The Tollway PLA did not ultimately prevent a labor dispute from impacting Tollway work.==
This doesn’t make any sense. Tollway PLA relates to Tollway projects, not unrelated supplier stuff. If I owned a road salt company two years and promised no layoffs, but then didn’t get any product because the ships were stuck in ice in the Great Lakes, didn’t make any sales, ran out of money, and laid people off, would it because my agreement was worthless or that factors out of my control caused the lay offs? Will you blame Mariano’s if Tropicana stops delivering to retailers and you can’t get it there? You are trying to justify your original assertion, which is false, by attaching indirect and non-material evidence. The Tollway PLA does not govern non-Tollway involved organizations. It’s literally that simple.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 5:22 pm
===A lot of teeth gnashing over the prospect of the gravy train coming to an end.===
How so? Explain…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 6:32 pm
Who stops this tunnel vision, non-governing Governor? He was not elected to simply provide a cheaper workforce for the wealthy. His agenda is clear, and it has nothing to do with turning around the state. It is self serving and immoral. Doesn’t he have to do SOMETHING for the betterment of our State? Silly me-but I thought that was the point of being the Governor.
Comment by Property of IDOC Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 9:26 pm