Construction strike affecting schools, Randhurst

A construction workers strike has stalled not only roadwork but several major building projects in the Northwest suburbs, including some school projects with firm August deadlines.

Picketers were seen Friday at Buffalo Grove High School in Buffalo Grove as well as outside Barrington Unit District 220's brand-new Early Learning Center in Barrington.

Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, and Laborers' District Council of Chicago and Vicinity went on strike last Wednesday over wage and benefit issues. A meeting aimed at resolving the strike set for Wednesday, July 7, is what many school districts and building contractors are hanging their hopes on.

"We don't expect it will affect the project timeline," District 220 spokesman Jeff Arnett said of the strike's impact on the Early Learning Center. "Things were progressing very well."

The union workers strike also halted progress on the renovation of the former Randhurst Shopping Center in Mount Prospect, though it was not chosen as a picket site.

Jim Conroy, director of development for Casto LP, said he should have seen 75 workers on site at Randhurst Friday, but instead there were just a few taking care of aspects of the project that absolutely couldn't be left lingering.

"Hopefully next week this will be taken care of and we can all get back to work," Conroy said.

Work was also stopped on an addition to District 62's Algonquin Middle School in Des Plaines.

Deb Parenti, associate superintendent of finance and operations for District 214, said that only Buffalo Grove High School was seeing picketers Friday, though major work is also being done at Rolling Meadows and Elk Grove high schools this summer.

Dave Torres, associate superintendent for business of Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211, said his district has no projects currently affected by the strike. However, there are some paving projects scheduled in a few weeks that could be affected if the strike lasted that long, he added.