Catherwood LibraryILR School

A nineteen day strike by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 and the Chicago Laborers' District Council is expected to officially end on Wednesday. The two Chicago-area unions struck for a raise that they said would help them manage health care costs. The agreement with the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association, which represents the construction companies, gives the workers a 9.75% increase in wages and benefits over three years. The strike halted construction on hundreds of projects, and led to some school district letting companies go because of time issues. The city Transportation Department says that they are hoping to find a way to get their projects back on schedule or ahead of schedule. Union leaders say that they are happy with the agreement, and that they got what they wanted to out of the negotiations.