Crane, heavy equipment operators head back to work

[simply Dan]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/05/29/crane-strike-end.html

Thousands of crane and heavy equipment operators whose week-long strike paralyzed major construction projects across Ontario are returning to work after reaching a tentative agreement.

The International Union of Operating Engineers said Tuesday it has reached a settlement that has been ratified by the employers. A union ratification vote will be held in several days.

About 3,000 union members will return to job sites on Wednesday, Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher said.

No details of the proposed settlement were released.

Workers walked off the job last Wednesday, causing construction to halt at sites such as a North Bay hospital, a Toronto power project and a Toyota plant in Woodstock.

 

[yyzer]

that's good news....here's mo' info from Daily Commercial News:

May 29, 2007

Tentative agreements in ICI strikes

IAN HARVEY

correspondent

TORONTO

Two major settlements and a pending vote on the third are the last outstanding construction unions to reach agreements and should restore calm to job sites across Ontario by Friday.

Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Local 46 has ratified an agreement for the ICI sector which will give them about $5 an hour more over three years for those working in Toronto, Barrie and Kitchener and $4 for the rest of the catchment area.

And 3,000 members of Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers are to return to work tomorrow as a good faith gesture in advance of their ratification vote Tuesday.

The only outstanding settlement would be PSU Local 46's highrise residential sector dispute with the Metropolitan Plumbing and Heating Contractor's Association.

The union was meeting last night at the Sheraton Parkway to discuss the options pending a re-vote Friday.

Friday's re-vote was requested by the employers' association after the initial contract offer was rejected. The key issue is the cost of parking.

The Local wants to expand the definition of what zones qualify for paid parking in Toronto and wants a per diem of $12 to cover parking costs.

The employers have offered $10, $11 and $12 over the three-year term of the contract.

Local 46 business manager Jim Hogarth said the parking issue is the major sticking point for the residential side, but notes the strike "can only go another two weeks anyway since we're restricted to 45 days."

The ICI vote clearly shows the trend towards regional settlements in construction sector bargaining, he said, noting it's clearly more "expensive to work in some places like Toronto."

Meanwhile, IUOE Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher says he fully expects the membership will ratify the new settlement Tuesday, though admits he was optimistic but proven wrong last month when he recommended a settlement which was rejected.

"This is a better settlement," he said. "The issue of apprentices has been resolved and the issue around a 4-10 hour day work week is also resolved - it's dead as a doornail. The membership is just not interested in it."

He declined to detail the wage offer, saying it first had to be presented to the members, but said that heavy equipment and crane operators and surveyors were returning to work yesterday ending the strike which began May 23.

 

[Hydrogen]

Great. That means my place will be ready to move into one of these days (years).

 

[billonlogan]

Is it coincidence that most construction labour actions happen around a major Football (Soccer) event. Most settle after the Final is complete.