Operating engineers’ strike ends after union and contractors reach deal

Listen to this article

Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139 have ended a strike involving hundreds of union members on dozens of Milwaukee area job sites after ratifying a three-year agreement on Wednesday with contractors and construction employers.

The 19-day strike ended after Local 139 finalized its contract with the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee and the Allied Construction Employers Association for increased wages.

The strike affected job sites in several counties, including the Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, apartments in the east side of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services building and the recreation center at Marquette University. Through the duration of the protest, Local 139 members were seen outside job sites with signs.

The new contract comes with new allocations for the union, including a wage increase between $2-$2.45 per hour for Class 1 and Class 2, 3 and 4 members respectively. Members also voted to raise allocations for healthcare, pension and annuity by $0.50.

A nickel was allocated for the union’s training center in Coloma, Wis., which will help offset costs due to inflation, said Mike Ervin, the Local 139’s organizing director.

“We’re happy it worked out, to get the members back to work and providing for their families,” Ervin said. “They felt they deserved more.”

“The contractors proposed a new multi-year offer that will provide the men and women of Local 139 with a substantial and well-deserved pay increase and allow local contractors to remain competitive in the market,” said Mark Kessenich, CEO of AGC-GM, in a partial statement on June 18.