A strike by laborers in the construction industry devastates progress for crucial projects and has widespread effects, from increased traffic which is the product of stalled roadwork, to businesses that rely on the timely completion of a project. For almost three weeks now, construction workers on strike in Illinois have been holding out for better medical benefits, affecting projects such as work on the Edens Spur and completion of hospitals and universities. This weekend Contractors Association of Will and Grundy Counties reached an agreement with Local 150 and members of the Laborers’ District Council of Chicago, in which laborers will get an increase of 3.25 percent for three years to help pay for their health care and other benefits. None of those benefits demanded by the workers will increase their wages. Last week, the Chicago Area Independent Contractors Association and the Illinois Valley Contractors Association were able to agree to similar deals with the unions.
Negotiations are now being held with the lead contractor, Mid-American Regional Bargaining Association, which proposes only a 4.25 percent increase while the strikers are demanding 13.65 percent over 3 years. Although construction and material transportation has resumed in many areas for the first time in weeks due to the recent agreements, work for any contractors associated with MARBA will not resume before an agreement is reached. A statement from Tom Nordeen, MARBA Chairman, and Dave Snelten, President, blames the union for both sides’ failure to arrive at an agreement. They stressed that “union leaders refuse to face the reality that we are in the worst financial state of our lifetime” by asking for help to cover the costs of health care benefits.
Despite the inconveniences of such demands in a troubled economy, the construction industry is one in which health care is of incalculable value and cannot not be underestimated. Strenuous activities are a day-to-day reality for construction workers. An accident in the industry can cost one of its workers as little as a scratch and as much as a limb or a life, but their work produces buildings that make a city like Chicago famous. Tours along the Chicago River downtown highlight the genius of the leading architects; the toil of laborers who implement the designers’ dreams goes mostly unnoticed. The strikers today are demanding recognition in the form of adequate medical care in an industry where there is an obvious physical toll on the workers.
According to the Construction Chart Book, “costs associated with work-related injuries and illnesses make the construction industry one of the most expensive of all U.S. industries.” Many construction companies do not provide health insurance, which means they are less likely to have a regular medical provider and more likely to use costly emergency rooms and services. Construction workers who have insurance through their union may appear to have more options, but inadequate funding for those benefits can limit workers’ access to providers and treatment. Difficulty in obtaining adequate medical care can worsen an already unhealthy condition, particularly in an industry where strenuous repetitive motions are common and whose cumulative effects that ultimately result in injuries may not be immediately apparent. These types of injuries by nature can be difficult to treat and diagnose, and are even more difficult to prove as being work-related in order to receive benefits such as workers’ compensation.
If you have been injured working on a construction site, be sure to report any injury to the appropriate authority as soon as possible, such as the site or project manager. Especially with injuries that are the result of repetitive motions such as carpel tunnel syndrome in the wrist and arm, or a rotator cuff tear in the shoulder, immediate medical attention serves to lower the risk of a condition worsening, and also provides an opportunity to allow a medical professional to determine the origin of the injury. A doctor’s opinion as to what caused the injury is crucial for determining workers’ compensation benefits, and if a third party suit is filed against one or more parties (such as the contractors or subcontractors), that opinion will also be necessary.
Anticipating risks in the construction industry is as important to preventing workplace injuries as timely medical attention is to treating them. As part of their ongoing research, the Center for Research and Training provides a comprehensive guide to safety solutions for construction, broken down by type of work activity. Their website details how the database provides workers and contractors with resources to “identify hazards associated with specific construction tasks, and provide options for actually controlling those hazards.”
We at Capron & Avgerinos have been serving clients who have had to deal with these types of accidents for over 20 years and understand the pain and frustration they generate, so please contact our office at 800-535-4542 if you would like to speak with an attorney about your work or personal injury.
