Operating Engineers Considering Strike
Thursday, November 21, 2013(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
For the first time in decades, local operating engineers are considering a
strike. Members of IUOE Local 99 recently voted down eight separate
proposed agreements with EMCOR Government Services, the local’s largest
signatory company, Local 99 organizer Eamon Clifford reported at Monday’s
Metro Washington Council meeting, “and we’re now preparing to take a strike
vote, our first in decades.” Major issues include wages, pension and
healthcare, which is the same issue that provoked UFCW Local 400 members at
Giant and Safeway last week to take a strike vote. Many of Local 99’s
members are affected by the EMCOR contracts and the local – which represents
skilled tradesmen and licensed engineers in office buildings, government
facilities, hospitals and hotels throughout the metro area – plans to begin
informational leafleting soon.