Posted on 08/02/2011 10:32:48 AM PDT by Palter
Hundreds of unionized concrete workers refused to work Monday at the World Trade Center and a smattering of other sites, setting the stage for a possible strike in the coming days.
The work action stopped construction on part of the World Trade Center's 800,000-square-foot transit hub, according to a person familiar with the matter. Some construction tradesmen continued work there Monday, but a prolonged work stoppage could affect all construction that needs concrete to proceed, according to that person.
Construction proceeded at other sites where workers didn't show up Monday, including the new basketball arena at Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn.
It was not known if a strike vote had been scheduled. The contract covering more than 2,000 concrete workers from three local unions expired on June 30. Since then, the concrete workers have been operating without a new contract.
One looming question remains: If the concrete workers do strike, will other trades cross the picket line?
"I don't think any of the other trades will formally authorize a strike," said Louis Coletti, president of the Building Trades Employers' Association, an umbrella group that represents contractors said Monday. "We won't know till tomorrow."
A source familiar with the matter said labor negotiations were proceeding Monday between the Cement and Concrete Workers District Council representing the concrete workers and the Cement League, a contractors' association that represents management.
"The World Trade Center site should not be held as a bargaining chip in these negotiations," Mr. Coletti said. "Despite differences, they should go to work."
The union declined to comment. Cement League officials could not be reached Monday.
Concrete workers also stopped working at One World Trade Center, slated to be a 104-story office tower, according to another person familiar with the matter.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I suspect that Vito’s retirement fund needs a fresh infusion of cash. (Just say’in)
Union thugs.
Unions have become communists organizations.
Is Super-Glue part of the Cement League?
When Union thugs come first, America comes last.
Per Federal Labor Laws a Union on Strike can only picket one Job-Site entrance. So the SOP is for the Construction Manager, or a G.C. (on smaller jobs) is to Open a 2nd Entrance. Then all other union trades have to go to work through that non-picketed entrance. And as such they are NOT crossing any picket line.
Additionally a Company can get around a strike and stopping their work by signing an agreement that they will pay, retroactively, whatever package is finally agreed upon between the two parties. Then their men HAVE TO continue working.
And not that I love Trade Unions(1), but working in good faith for a month without a contract is beyond what any union is required to do. I give the Concrete workers credit for that.
(1) When I was a young draftsman I had union slug 'draftsmen' sitting at a drafting boards right in front of me who were making DOUBLE the wage I did and their Drawings SUCKED. So boy did I hate those guys back then. And THEN - Nixon put in that dam wage freeze, except it didn't pertain to Existing Union Contracts. I almost went postal then.
I doubt that anything will ever be completed at that site. Various governments agencies all have to study and approve everything that happens; Christians, atheists and muzzies are at each others throats about what to include; and the filthy trade unionists will extort whatever they can from wherever the funding comes from.
If left just the way it is now it will accurately reflect what this once great nation has become.
I recently applied for a part time job working for a grocery store that is pretty big in the Mid East Coast.
It is union. I’m retired after 45+ years, and was told I would be on the bottom of the barrel...get all of the hours that a 16 year old who has seniority does not want.
I can see where a union job is great for someone who has been there for 20 - 30 years, but it ain’t so great for someone who has already paid his/her dues in the work place.
That was pretty much a done deal back in the 1880's. IWW, Western Federation of Miners, and some others.
They should stay on strike until November 2012. Obama/Biden/Reid/Pelosi should all go down and stand in solidarity with them.
I more or less agree.
While I despise public employee unions, trade unions I usually have a little more tolerance for - but I still don’t like the shady tactics that they tend to use.
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