Brothers and Sisters,
Local 150 is approaching the three-year anniversary of one of the longest strikes in our union’s history. On June 7, 2022, Local 150 went on strike against three major material producers – Lehigh Hanson, Vulcan Materials, and Lafarge Holcim – at facilities across Northern Illinois in protest of unfair labor practices committed against our members. These companies produce aggregate materials including sand, gravel and crushed stone that are essential to the production of asphalt, concrete, and many other construction materials.
For decades prior to the strike, Local 150 had been the backbone of this industrious region and had a good working relationship with the Northern Illinois Material Producers Association (NIMPA) and later with the Chicago Area Aggregate Producers Association (CAAPA). This partnership was strong for years, rooted in a commitment to the region’s economic vitality and the workers’ wellbeing. However, in 2022 there was a fracture in this once-solid relationship.
The grit and determination of our Brother and Sister members, business agents, organizers, staff, and officers who stood strong working long hours, seven days a week, to staff picket lines and support this strike was the critical factor to our success. We also saw truly impressive support from members of other trades, making sacrifices, knowing that the battle we were in would benefit them in the long run as well.
The sacrifice of everyone made all the difference in the outcome of that strike, which ended 50 days later on July 25, 2022, when a tentative agreement was reached. Knowing this history is important. Due to Local 150 members holding their ground and refusing to budge, it truly made a significant impact this time around when we sat across from CAAPA and NIMPA at the negotiation table.
This year, as Local 150 began to prepare for negotiations prior to the contract expiring at the end of April, we built upon the lessons learned from the last battle. We understood the critical importance of entering discussions with a well-defined strategy; and preparation was key. We wasted no time in having a great team of skilled negotiators and experts in labor law at the table.
Local 150 positioned itself as a force, ready to stand firm against any attempts to undermine the rights of our members. After several negotiation meetings, I am pleased to report that a tentative agreement was reached with both CAAPA and NIMPA. A ratification meeting was held on May 4, where Local 150 shared with members the details of the 5-year tentative agreements at two separate meetings. Both agreements have fair economic terms that overcome the setback with inflation. At the meetings, both the CAPPA and NIMPA contract bargaining agreements were unanimously ratified.
This continues our work at the negotiation table, much like what we saw last year with the over 200 contracts that were successfully completed with some of the best agreements for our members in our local’s history. Critical to our success in recent negotiations has been our ability to recover the value of wages and benefits lost to inflation. By setting solid benchmarks throughout our history and continuing this today, Local 150 decisively shapes the battleground for future negotiations.
The benchmarks we established last year in the Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 Heavy-Highway/Underground and Building Agreements carried over this year to the District 4 contracts. Earlier this month, District 4 members unanimously ratified significant wage and benefit increases in those three-year agreements.
These benchmarks are not just arbitrary lines; they represent the values of a united workforce that asks for truly nothing more than fairness and justice. By firmly establishing what is non-negotiable, Local 150 not only fortifies its position, but also sends a powerful message about the critical importance of integrity throughout the negotiation process. These benchmarks become our frontline, and we will not back down from them. This makes sure that any and all discussions are anchored in respect for the high quality work our members do, and the fair pay and benefits they deserve.
Another employer negotiation Local 150 is having to take a strong stand against is Cranemasters, Inc. For the past 20 months, we’ve been stuck in what feels like an endless loop of bad-faith bargaining with this railroad wrecking and repair company. Things took a turn for the worse when Cranemasters declared impasse prematurely and then tried to sneak in parts of a new proposal that the union never agreed upon. These actions are a yet another example of the lack of integrity that Cranemasters displayed this entire negotiation process.
Local 150 has filed twelve ULP charges against Cranemasters for its conduct during negotiations. Their consistent bad-faith bargaining make it clear that a true impasse—one that requires genuine efforts from both sides—cannot exist.
Despite these hurdles, Local 150 negotiated fairly and made reasonable proposals and counterproposals on critical matters. Yet, Cranemasters hasn’t reciprocated our efforts. It’s frustrating because our willingness to remain focused and reasonable over a nearly two-year period was consistent, despite Cranemasters’ lack of a good faith effort.
Local 150 will continue this battle because this group of employees deserve fair treatment and respect for their rights. It’s not just about the immediate issues at hand, but about setting a precedent for how negotiations should be conducted in the future. This group has worked tirelessly, contributing to the success and productivity of the company, and they deserve a contract that reflects their dedication and hard work.
Cranemasters is trying to run, but we are chasing them off jobs in states across the country with pickets protesting Cranemasters’ unfair labor practices. We will relentlessly pursue them, utilizing every means we have within the law, to get them to bargain in good faith and to stop mistreating its employees. Continue to stay strong in this, Brother and Sister members.
We are committed to standing up against any attempts to undermine the principles of fair labor practices. Our resolve remains strong, and we will not back down until we secure an agreement that honors the contributions of every member. This fight is not just for the present but for the future of our workforce, ensuring that fairness and integrity are at the heart of all our negotiations.
These situations don’t stop there. Recently, in Indiana we helped to ensure our Brothers and Sisters in IUOE Local 103 working at United Rentals are given equal healthcare benefits as their neighboring Brother and Sisters in Local 150, as well as locals in Michigan and Ohio. This push for equitable healthcare is not just about aligning benefits across state lines, but about recognizing the inherent value and dignity of each worker.
United Rentals has long benefited from the dedication and expertise of highly skilled operating engineers, mechanics, drivers and others. It is only fair that all union members’ healthcare reflects this contribution. The disparities in healthcare benefits create unnecessary stress and inequity among workers who perform similar roles and deserve equal treatment. Most recently, it was announced that Local 103 and United Rentals resolved the issues related to healthcare benefits.
In this effort, we are not alone. We continue to set stronger and higher standards that become our compass to drive agreements that are both fair and lasting. Local 150 is safeguarding the rights of our retirees and current members, as well as building a legacy for future generations of operating engineers.
During every negotiation, it’s not just enough to settle the contract at hand to get the deal done. We are strategic in knowing that we will be back at the table in a few short years. When that team sits across from Local 150 the next time, they will not only remember who we are, but also will see and hear from others that since our last meeting, we have become stronger, wiser, and even more ready to take on a fight if necessary.
We will never back down when the fair treatment of working men and women is called into question. By fighting for fair wages, safe conditions, and workers’ rights, Local 150 plays a crucial role in balancing the scales in society. Unions are what are saving this country, its workers, and the dignity of labor itself.
In a world where power often skews against employees, unions like Local 150 stand for strength and fairness. They ensure workers are not just seen as cogs in a machine, but as valued individuals whose rights and contributions are vital to any organization’s, city’s, and country’s success.
Unions give a voice to the voiceless, negotiating tirelessly for agreements that reflect the true worth of the workforce. We are at a time when now more than ever workers need organizations that are ready to take a definitive stand and have the courage to stick to their guns. Local 150 alongside other unions is doing this and will not be denied. The livelihood of our members, who are good, hard-working men and women of this country need it, and they need it now.
As we look to the future, the resolve of unions to carve out a safe place where respect and cooperation are a given becomes more crucial than ever. Every worker wields power, and every job is a battle for justice in a cutthroat economy. In this relentless pursuit, Local 150 and so many other unions aren’t merely striving for better contracts; we are fighting for a future that holds promise for everyone. Stay safe and have a great work season knowing Local 150 has your back.
United We Stand. Divided We Fall.