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Carpenters Local 4 Back on the Job, Agree to Talk
Posted: 7/27/2010
As of noon on Friday, July 23, the contractor and union carpenter committees reached a resolution to meet together the week of July 26. Furthermore, parties agreed to have strike signs removed from job sites and offices, and have union carpenters return to work while the committees work together to resolve their differences.
Union members had been working without a contract since May 1, 2010, before going on strike July 20.
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Rockford Apprentice & Training Center Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Posted: 7/27/2010
The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters' Rockford Apprentice & Training Center Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thur., Oct. 14, 2010. Stay tuned for more details.
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Carpenters Reach Tentative Deal with MARBA
Posted: 7/22/2010
Effective July 21, 2010, the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters reached a tentative four-year agreement with the contractors represented by the Mid-American Regional Bargaining Association (MARBA). In August the Council will present this contract for ratification by the delegate body. A more detailed breakdown will be communicated to the locals when it becomes available.
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New Illinois Laws Aimed at Dishonest Contractors
Posted: 7/14/2010
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Two new Illinois laws are supposed to protect homeowners from dishonest contractors. Gov. Quinn signed both measures into law Monday, July 12, and both go into effect immediately.
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Chicago Getting $35 Million for Bus Projects
Posted: 7/14/2010
More than $35 million in federal transportation funding is headed to two transit projects in Chicago.
U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin announced that the grants had been awarded from the Department of Transportation. The money will fund two efforts that the senator's office says will reduce congestion, expand public transit access and encourage economic development.
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MARBA Negotiations Continue; Progress Made, Another Meeting Planned
Posted: 7/14/2010
The bargaining committees resumed contract negotiations on Friday July 9, 2010. While we were unable to reach a full agreement, we made some significant progress on economic and noneconomic issues and we remain optimistic. The attorneys are currently exchanging some proposed language changes discussed during our meeting and we are in the process of scheduling another meeting in the very near future.
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Carpenters' New Home Buyer Program Offers $3,000 Purchase Incentive!
Posted: 6/15/2010
Through the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, new home buyers can receive $3,000 toward the purchase of a new, union-built, professionally crafted home from partnering builders in the Chicago area. The Regional Council will commit up to $1 million for this program, in effect assisting with the building and purchasing of more than 330 new homes!
This investment will create work opportunities for area carpenters as well as assist the local communities suffering from funding deficits for programs and projects that are essential to community health and advancement.
Check back again soon for more details!
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MARBA Negotiations Ongoing; Work to Continue Under Current Contract
Posted: 6/10/2010
We have not yet reached new terms of agreement with the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association (MARBA) contract; however, we have agreed to continue working under the current agreement. Negotiations are ongoing.
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Carpenters Union Files Federal Suit Against Illinois over McPier Bill
Posted: 6/3/2010
A complaint was filed today in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, which challenges Public Act 898. The Carpenters are acutely aware of the importance of the tradeshow industry to the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago and to its members who support their families through their work at McCormick Place and Navy Pier. This lawsuit is not about the union or a political agenda; it is about the men and women working in the tradeshow industry and their federally protected rights to negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment without governmental interference.
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Housewares Show Elects to Stay in Chicago
Posted: 6/1/2010
The International Home and Housewares Show decided it wants to stay at McCormick Place, an official said.
The International Housewares Association's board voted to begin negotiations on renewing its contract. The group had threatened to leave Chicago unless lawmakers enacted a bill to overhaul the way McCormick Place is run. The Illinois Legislature voted May 27 to override Gov. Pat Quinn's veto of the legislation.
The Housewares Show is the No. 2 convention in the city, drawing nearly 60,000 attendants and generating $82 million in spending.
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Reilly Quits RTA to Assume Top Job at McPier
Posted: 5/28/2010
Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) chairman Jim Reilly resigned today to assume the top role at Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier.
State law prohibits an RTA director from holding another public post.
A new state law appoints Reilly as trustee in charge of McPier. Reilly submitted his resignation today after heading the RTA since 2005.
Reilly previously consulted for two trade-show contractors - Freeman and Global Experience Specialists (GES) - during contract talks with unions at McCormick Place.
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McCormick Place Overhaul Becomes Law
Posted: 5/28/2010
Sweeping legislation aimed at making McCormick Place more competitive became law Thursday after the General Assembly trampled efforts by Gov. Pat Quinn to reshape key portions of the package.
The House quickly joined the Senate in voting overwhelmingly to reject Quinn's amendatory veto, putting into place a law that aims to halt the exodus of trade shows that object to high costs in Chicago. The House vote of 93-19 followed a Senate vote of 51-2, with one lawmaker casting a present vote.
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Quinn Concerned with Proposed McCormick Place Bill
Posted: 5/14/2010
Gov. Quinn says Senate Bill 28 should be analyzed to make sure there were no conflicts of interest. The focus of the governor's concern is Jim Reilly, who would be appointed to a highly powerful position during an 18-month McCormick Place transition as part of the bill. Reilly previously consulted for two trade-show contractors - Freeman and Global Experience Specialists (GES) - during contract talks with unions at McCormick Place.
Frank Libby, president of the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, said, "Who's he going to side with? When people pay you, you project their opinions."
Reilly also went head-to-head with the convention hall labor unions in 1997, and while the unions won that legislative battle, some unions foresee a contentious relationship.
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McCormick Place Bill May Have Conflict of Interest
Posted: 5/14/2010
"Labor got hit hard, the contractors were virtually untouched and Reilly consulted for the contractors."
Correspondent Jay Levine says Gov. Pat Quinn is thinking twice before signing the new McCormick Place bill -- because of a sneaky maneuver.
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Chicago Convention Bill Passed, Sent to Gov. Quinn for Signing
Posted: 5/12/2010
The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation May 7 intended to reduce costs for exhibitors at McCormick Place in an effort to make the city more competitive as a convention destination.
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