Construction resumes after International Union of Operating Engineers ends four-day strike

There are some very interesting components of a settlements here that somewhat parallel past negotiations in Philadelphia and implications on 2014 negotiations in the region.

EASTHAMPTON — Construction work on the Manhan Bridge Wednesday was a welcome sight to Mayor Michael A. Tautznik, evidence that a four-day strike by members of Local 98 of the International Union of Operating Engineers had ended.

“It’s a good outcome,” Tautznik said. “We’re certainly happy the parties were able to find common ground.”

The strike by 1,300 unionized heavy equipment operators shut down the $3.75 million Manhan Bridge project completely Friday, along with a number of other construction sites in the Pioneer Valley, including at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Interstate 91 in Deerfield.

While work resumed on the Easthampton span over the weekend, it was not at the usual pace, due to the absence of the engineers.

A statement from the Construction Industries of Massachusetts announced that a new, three-year agreement had been reached Tuesday with Local 98, ending the strike.

The new contract stipulates that:

∎ Operating engineers will receive a general wage and benefit increase of 3 percent over the current contract distributed over three years.

∎ A new crane operator premium will be created, adding another approximately 11 percent to the general wage and benefit increase.

∎ A study group will be formed to examine the necessity of having an entry-level “oiler” position on cranes under 100 tons.

∎ A guaranteed 40-hour workweek will be suspended from Dec. 1 to March 31 for some categories of construction workers.

Peter Bennett, an attorney for the Construction Industries of Massachusetts, said in a statement that while there were “significant and disparate issues to address in these negotiations, we worked hard to reach an agreement that ensures our members remain strong and competitive in the region.”

Eugene Melville Jr., a business agent for Local 98 based in Longmeadow, did not return phone calls from the Gazette seeking comment on the new pact.

Michael Verseckes, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, confirmed in an email message Wednesday that not just the Manhan Bridge job, but “all projects that had been effected by the Local 98 operators’ union strike are back working today.”

Tautznik said the brief stoppage does not appear to have slowed overall progress on the Manhan Bridge, which is still gearing up to reopen ahead of schedule sometime this month. “The railings are up now and it’s nice to see an open road,” he said.

Tautznik said the state has not yet informed the city of exactly when the bridge near downtown will reopen.

Source: Gazettenet.com