Operating Engineers Local 150 defends strike on Toll Road project 2/20/2009

In response, I'm assuming, to my Friday column, regarding a nearly two-week-old strike against the Indiana Toll Roads Contractors, LLC - the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 issued a press release today defending its right to strike.

My column attracted more attention and reader comments than I expected, but I stand by what I wrote and the sources I cited. If they decide to go on the record, I'd be more than happy to share their names, titles, and involvement with this situation.

Let me remind you that this column was sparked by calls I received from the wife of a union worker who's had to honor the strike, and other spouses/family members who then followed her lead. I was in the dark about it until they contacted me.

Here, below, is the Local 150 press release in its entirety, for anyone keeping score at home, and I'll likely be writing a follow-up column on this issue for Tuesday's paper.

Today, the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, continued its constitutionally-protected picket against Indiana Toll Roads Contractors, LLC (ITRC), which began on February 9th at various ITRC worksites around Gary, Indiana. Local 150 is picketing to protest multiple unfair labor practices it believes have taken place against workers supportive of Local 150, including ITRC's discharge of one worker for union activity. Discharging an employee on these grounds is a violation of federal labor law. The other unfair labor practice that is being protested is ITRC's refusal to hire a worker solely based on his affiliation with Local 150, which also violates the National Labor Relations Act.

Local 150 was certified as the exclusive bargaining representative for several employees of ITRC in a secret-ballot election overseen by officials with the National Labor Relations Board. It therefore has a responsibility to defend these workers against unlawful retaliation to their legally-protected union activity.

In picketing situations such as these, individual workers have the right to choose whether or not to honor the picket, and can, therefore, continue to work if they so choose. The approximately 50 tradesmen and women currently not working have chosen to honor the picket.

Local 150 has made several attempts to expedite meetings with ITRC in order to discuss this issue and work in good faith toward a resolution. ITRC did not respond to Local 150's repeated offers to hold a meeting earlier this week to resolve the unfair labor practice. The next bargaining session is scheduled for February 26th.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 is a labor union representing more than 23,000 working people in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Local 150 represents workers in various industries, including construction, construction material production, concrete pumping, steel mill service, slag production, landscaping, public works and others.

By Jerry Davichon