Striking crane operators are back to work amid a fragile
peace between their union and an organization of building contractors.
The strike, which began Tuesday, slowed, but generally
didn’t stop, construction at projects in Center City and throughout the region,
including the Comcast Corp. tower, Chester County Hospital, Market Street East,
and the W Hotel.
“Today Bob Heenan and I met for five hours to resolve the
strike with the GBCA,” Tom Danese, recording secretary for International Union
of Operating Engineers Local 542, wrote on the union’s Facebook page. The post
went up Friday evening, without stating when exactly workers would be back on
the job. “We are putting everyone back to work. Something’s [sic] need to be
ironed out over the weekend, but at this time we are back to work. That is all
I can say at this time.”
Union officials didn’t meet with the bargaining team from
the General Building Contractors Association on Friday, but were in touch for
hours on the phone. Their last meeting, on Thursday, failed to produce any
results.
GBCA president Benjamin Connors declined to comment and
Danese didn’t return several calls seeking comment — an indication of the
tentativeness of the situation.
The union’s contract expired April 30. Talks broke down
over disagreements about the role of oilers on building sites, how the GBCA
should collect dues, and when double time should be paid. Core compensation
wasn’t an issue — both sides agreed to a raise of $2 an hour each year through
the duration of the contract.
The union didn’t set up pickets, so construction was able
to continue on many sites. However, the work was hampered because union members
operate construction elevators as well as machinery that lifts heavy objects,
such as steel beams. On Friday, construction at the Comcast tower came to a
complete halt following a morning protest by the union as the other trades
decided not to enter the job site.
Danese thanked union members and the other trades for
their cooperation.
Source: Philly.com
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