Work remained at a standstill this weekend at the Brown County Courthouse and the New Ulm Library as general laborers continued to strike.

John Heymann of Heymann Construction in New Ulm said that “nothing has changed” on the status of the strike by laborers and that his firm is still working on unpicketed projects.

THERE IS a possibility that the laborers could be locked out, although Heymann emphasized that that firm has not made a decision on whether to go along with a lock out decision being contemplated by Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Minnesota.

“I don’t know; I think that’s an individual matter. I wouldn’t want to commit myself on that,” said Heymann of the lock out possibility.

AGC postponed a decision Friday on whether to call a lockout of striking building trades throughout the state.

An AGC spokesman, while con-ceding that the possibility has been discussed by 200 Minnesota contractors, said he did not anticipate a lockout.

William Mooney, federal mediator, reported no progress in negotiations between the AGC and the striking unions.

MEANWHILE, members of Operating Engineers Local 49 in St. Paul have voted by a “substantial majority” to reject a two year contract offer by AGC.

About 300 members of Local 49 in the sand and gravel and ready-mix concrete industry have been on strike against AGC since June 3. About 400 drivers employed in the industry also are idled.

The tentative agreement between Local 49 and AGC had been reached by negotiators last Saturday during an all-night bargaining session.

The Saturday session also produced a tentative agreement between Local 49 and AGC’s Highway and Heavy Builders divisions, affecting about 7,000 members of the local throughout Minnesota who are not on strike.

Union members will vote on the three-year contract proposal with the highway and heavy building industry at 8 p.m. Tuesday at 15meetings throughout Minnesota.

Members of Local 49 are among seven basic trades that have been involved in negotiations with AGC this spring.

A series of strikes against the contractors began May 20 when 1,700ironworkers walked off the job. Last Monday,laborers,bricklayers and carpenters also struck.

New Ulm Daily Journal

June 21, 1975