STRIKE ENDS!

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.