This morning, representatives of the Mid America Carpenters Regional Council (Carpenters Union) are on site at the City of Champaign Fire Station 4 disputing the employment of non-union carpenters on a project to renovate the living quarters for Champaign Firefighters. Despite the City’s efforts to address their demands, the Regional Council began a strike at the fire station today, stopping all construction work. The City wants to assure the public that the fire companies assigned to Station 4 remain on duty and will continue to respond to calls as normal. No emergency services will be impeded.
In April 2024, the City of Champaign contracted with Pacific Construction Services, LLC, to complete dorm renovations and an ADA compliant bathroom project at Champaign Fire Station 4, located at 2315 W. John Street. As the general contractor, Pacific is responsible for securing subcontractors and ensuring all workers on the job are paid at State of Illinois prevailing wage rates. While most subcontractors on the worksite are from local union trades (electrical, plumbing, painting, etc.), pricing obtained from union carpentry subcontractors exceeded State prevailing wage rates and was more costly than proposals submitted by other subcontractors.
The City received Notices of Labor Dispute related to this project from the Mid-America Regional Council Director, on September 19 and October 17. City officials met with a representative of the Carpenters Regional Council to explain that the City was obligated to proceed with the legally binding construction contract for the project. However, last week, a business agent for the Carpenters Union interrupted the work when he showed up at the fire station location and engaged directly with the contractors onsite.
Although the City is unable to terminate its binding contract with Pacific without cause, the City and Pacific have agreed to pay the higher wage rate demanded by the Carpenters Regional Council to carpenters working on the project. The City of Champaign values its long-standing, productive relationship with local union labor trades. The City is committed to assuring that all workers on City projects are paid State prevailing wages and will monitor pay requests to ensure compliance with the law.