Published: July 02, 2008 03:34 pm            

Union strikes at stadium

Construction at Boone Pickens Stadium is being affected by a sheet metal workers strike.

The strike began Monday night. Members of Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 124, based in Oklahoma City, unanimously voted to strike after rejecting a new contract offer.

Representing the striking union at the BPS job site Tuesday were Terry Willis and Joshua Radford. Both carried signs.

“The men in this local have been underpaid compared to other sheet metal workers in America,” Willis said. “The wages in Oklahoma are a lot lower than other parts of the country and the Oklahoma City wages are lower than they are in neighboring local unions. It’s time for a raise. There are men in the past years who have had only 39 cent per year raises when you average it out over the years.”

Added Radford, “We want to get our fair share of our contract. Most of us drive from Oklahoma City or Shawnee, 40, 50, 60 miles away and they don’t pay us enough to drive that far.”

They said more than 500 workers from job sites across the state are on strike, including more than 25 working at OSU.

“We are sending a message loud and clear to various people — this construction company here and the ones we’re employed by — that we’re craftsmen,” Willis said. “We deserve fair wages and the benefits we are asking for.”

Willis added there would be a bigger presence of picketers today.

Gary Shutt, director of communications for OSU, said the university hopes the situation will be resolved as quickly as possible.

Willis said he is optimistic about that.

“I believe this won’t take very long because I believe they will see that our voice is heard,” he said.

Flintco, which is the contractor for the stadium work, declined to comment. The subcontractor, United Mechanical Service, did not return a phone call seeking comment. Neither did Mike London, president of Local 124.

Willis said many Americans don’t understand unions.

“That’s why they have a 40-hour work week, that’s why they have weekends off,” he added. “That’s why they have holiday pay. There are a lot of benefits.

“There are a lot of good things for people in America that (unions) paved the way for them to have.”

        

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