Striking concrete workers halt work at 30 NYC construction sites

construction hard hatConcrete workers belonging to the New York City District Council of Carpenters have gone on strike, bringing work to a halt at an estimated 30 jobsites around the city.

According to a report from Crain’s New York Business, the strike is the result of the ending of a collective bargaining agreement between the council and the Cement League, a trade organization made up of contractors that “hire district council workers under a collective contract.”

As part of the demonstrations, workers played bagpipes and drums while hoisting large banners. Crain’s reports the “Cement League alleges that many of the protests … were taking place in violation of separate, site-specific contracts that forbid workers from striking.”

However, the carpenters council denied that claim, saying the strikes were occurring on jobsites not governed by Project Labor Agreements.