By Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review editor, posted on Workday Minnesota

An agreement signed Tuesday ensures that all the construction work on the new I-35W bridge will be performed by union members.

Flatiron-Manson, the bridge contractor, signed a Project Labor Agreement Nov. 13 with the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council.

Construction work on the bridge began Nov. 1 without a Project Labor Agreement in place while the two sides continued to negotiate.

"We finally were able to get it done," said David Ybarra, business manager for the Council.

Ybarra said the agreement was a "standard private sector Project Labor Agreement." Under the terms of the agreement, Flatiron-Manson will use only union labor from affiliates of the Minneapolis Building Trades Council for the job.

In return, the Building Trades unions have committed that the project will proceed without any work stoppages or strikes.

The Project Labor Agreement also spells out work rules and wages and a process to resolve any disputes that might arise.

Ybarra said that the duration of the Project Labor Agreement will be through the completion of the project, Dec. 31, 2008.

He added that the Minneapolis Building Trades secured the agreement with "no concessions."

Peak employment on the bridge project next spring will involve 600 workers a day. Flatiron-Manson was awarded a $234 million contract from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to build the new I-35W bridge.

Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council. Visit the CLUC website, www.minneapolisunions.org