A strike that’s stretched two weeks could imperil Chicago-area road projects at the height of construction season.
Some 300 members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 — those who are employed by Chicago-area quarries run by Lehigh Hanson, Vulcan Materials Co. and Lafarge Holcim — went on strike June 7.
“We’re talking about 300 men and women who work in pits and quarries for aggregate material producers,” said Ed Maher, spokesman for Local 150. “So this is things like sand, gravel, crushed stone — aggregate materials that are very important in making concrete, cement, various construction materials, asphalt. (The laborers) operate heavy equipment.”