Des Plaines casino work stops amid strike

While crews returned to work at a Naperville high school Thursday, the casino site in Des Plaines is still temporarily shut down while a construction workers union strike stretches into its second week.

"Beside a couple of laborers picketing, everything is fenced off," said Tim Oakley, Des Planes director of public works and engineering. "We just have to wait until the strike is settled."

Construction on the casino - which will sit on about 20 acres fronting the Tri-State Tollway - started in April.

The first phase involves a 45,000-square-foot, single-level structure housing 1,200 gambling positions, and an attached five-story parking garage for 1,560 cars. About 30,000 square feet of restaurants and bars and an additional 773 surface parking spaces also are planned in the first phase of development.

Oakley said the site is secure until the strike is over.

Both sides met for about seven hours this week but didn't reach a consensus. Another joint bargaining session will continue Monday.

Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 and Laborers' District Council of Chicago and Vicinity began picketing last week. The strike affects about 300 Illinois Department of Transportation projects across the metropolitan region.

A few miles away, work on Randhurst mall in Mount Prospect also has stopped, said Jim Conroy, director of development for Casto LP.

"Sports Authority is getting ready to open but all the stuff related to the heavy machinery, asphalting and excavating has been placed on hold," Conroy said. "To lose weeks during the prime construction season when the weather is nice is tough."

Randhurst's 2,000 seat theater will still probably open in April 2011, Conroy said.

Naperville Unit District 203 officials brokered a deal at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday with International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 and Laborers' District Council of Chicago and Vicinity that exempts the project from the strike, Superintendent Mark Mitrovich announced Thursday.

Mitrovich would not disclose details of the pact and said they will not be discussed until the school board officially approves the deal at its July 19 meeting.

Daily Herald Staff Reporter Justin Kmitch contributed to this article.