July 21, 2010

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As it has been highly publicized over the last few weeks our brothers and sisters on the “outside” have been on strike. As you also must have heard, the negotiations have been geared towards funding the huge increase in the cost of just “maintaining” their health benefits.

Although an agreement has been reached, it may still not cover the cost of maintaining benefits for our brothers and sisters who do not work for the City of Chicago.

The upside is that we will not see a reduction in the prevailing rate to offset the benefits cost shortfall over the next two years, ultimately freezing the prevailing rate for the same time period.

What this means for you, ONLY IF YOUR PAY IS BASED ON THE PREVAILING RATE, is that there will be no change, either positive or negative, in the prevailing rate over the next two years.

We would like to thank all of you who came out to picket and support our brothers and sisters who were on strike in these very difficult economic times and appreciate the show of unity for your Union.

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July, 19, 2010

The Laborers' District Council of Chicago & Vicinity, along with Local 150 of the Operating Engineers, reached terms tonight on a new 3-year contract with the contractors represented by the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association (MARBA), effectively ending the strike against MARBA contractors immediately.

Long hours of negotiations led to fair concessions being made by both sides. The contract provides increases that will help protect our health care and pension funds amid skyrocketing costs, and further solidifies the ability of a Laborer to provide for his or her family with good wages and benefits. Work throughout the area should resume as soon as possible.

We'd like to thank all the Laborers who helped picket over the past three weeks, and all of our other brothers and sisters in the building trades who stood in solidarity with us by honoring our picket lines. Your unselfishness, dedication, and integrity, especially in this time of economic hardship, truly make the difference between begging and bargaining. The union movement is stronger because of you, and America is a better place when people like you have a voice.

Nobody ever wants to strike, but we cannot let employers take advantage of us, and when a fair contract can't be reached through other means, we have no other choice. We do not need to apologize for standing up for ourselves.

Once again, thank you all for your support and unity during this extremely important contract negotiation.

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July 1, 2010

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Our fellow Laborers' Locals, under the guidance of the Laborers' District Council, have recently held contract negotiations with contractor associations. Labor contracts for 18 of the Locals in Chicago and Vicinity expired on May 31, 2010. In consideration of some of the demands made during these negotiations, the Laborers' District Council delegates have authorized an industry-wide strike for their membership beginning July 1, 2010.

Laborers' Local 1001 has a "no-strike clause" in our collective bargaining agreement, which prohibits us from being on strike or participating in any work stoppage. We do, however, support our brothers and sisters in every way available to us, and ask that you do the same. You should be aware that our current prevailing wage rate for laborer is based on the gross wage rate of our fellow members in these Locals. Successful contract negotiations for these Locals will have a direct affect on members of Local 1001 whose rates are based on the prevailing rate.

The main issues of wages and benefits currently in dispute are very similar to the issues we faced in our last City Coalition Negotiations. Some of the proposals which are currently on the table could adversely affect both wages and benefits for our brothers and sisters. Through hard fought negotiations, including industry strikes in 1972, 1991, and briefly in 2006, we earned our current living standard. In these difficult economic times it is important to see that what laborers have worked so hard for in the past does not diminish.

There are 20,000 construction laborers in Chicago who stand united and must do what is necessary to ensure a successful conclusion to contract negotiations. Members of our Local can support our brothers and sisters by letting our fellow craft workers know what is happening and also by volunteering to join picket lines during off work hours. If you would like to volunteer, please call the Local. Most importantly, we must remain steadfast and proud to be laborers. When we remain in solidarity and unity there is no limit to what we can accomplish for our families, our Union, and ourselves.

The Officers of Laborers' Local Union 1001