116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Local union carpenters still working without contracts
Steve Gravelle
May. 3, 2011 4:24 pm
About 400 union carpenters are working without a contract this week as negotiations continue over a new agreement.
Carpenters Local 308 was the only one of seven locals that didn't reach a new contract agreement over the weekend, said Scott Smith, president of the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Building Trades Council.
Smith said the remaining six building trades locals have reached new contract agreements, heading off potential work stoppages as the old contracts expired Saturday night.
Smith described the new contracts as “so-so. It's a tough economy. Several locals took (pay) freezes.”
The new contracts' length varies by trade, Smith said. About 1,300 workers are members of the building and trades council.
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