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Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

MRC-BIA Update

Local Upate

On May 16, 2009 the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that construction on city residential developments stopped on Friday (5/15) when contractors and the carpenters’ union failed to agree on who could name the shop steward at union construction sites.
Sam Sherman, who heads the Building Industry Association, said contractors had traditionally chosen stewards from among longtime employees; the union wants to appoint an outside steward. Sherman said the sides agreed on wages that would raise compensation by $5.25 an hour to $63.85 an hour at the end of a three-year contract. That includes salary, benefits, and pension. Sherman said the stoppage affected from 10 to 12 major residential projects in the city, and puts about 400 carpenters out of work. The carpenters’ contract expired April 30.
Neither Edward C. Coryell, the top official at the council, nor Mark Durkalec, who heads the union’s residential group, could be reached for comment. No further negotiations have been scheduled.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer