Summer 2025

My Fellow Brothers and Sisters,

As we enter into spring it seems like it’s been a roller-coaster ride with the weather. The same can be said about the changes we continue to face under our new administration. With his one day on, the next day off, back and forth approach to tariffs, only continues to drive up inflation. This only seems to be working in his own mind but in reality this painful ride is affecting all of us with the products and materials we all need and depend on.

Our industry is feeling the strain as well. Rising costs make it increasingly difficult for our contractors to competitively bid on upcoming projects. Meanwhile private investors are running scared, with uncertainty about prices and the broader future of our economy, which seems to be leaving future projects on hold.

This leads me into the importance of collective bargaining. We were lucky enough to be left with one more year of a five year contract. That contract that was signed hopefully bought us enough time to navigate through Trump’s war on tariffs. Hopefully things get figured out before May 31st of 2026 which would leave us trying negotiate a contract while our work and hours are trending down.

As of June 1, 2025 we will be entering into the last year of our five year contract and we’re left with $2.65 for dispursement. It was voted on and passed at our last delegates meeting that Laborers throughout Chicagoland will be receiving a base wage increase again this year of $1.25 (bringing our hourly wage to $51.40). Welfare will receive $0.50 along with retiree subsidy receiving $0.11 and the last $0.79 will be going towards our pension.

While we’re on the topic of pension, I’m happy to say that again this year, Laborers still working at the calling will be seeing a $4 increase to our pension. Our new accrual rate has increased ounce again from $122 a pension credit to $126! This is a $12.00 increase over the past three years. To be eligible for this increase, 250 hours must have been worked after June 1, 2024. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility please contact the Pension Funds (708) 562-0200. Also our retirees will be seeing again this year a thirteenth check. For those retiree’s that retired with between 5 and 10 pension credits will see a check for $500 and those retiree’s that have 10 or more pension credits will see a check totaling $1500.

In closing, I wanted to bring to everyone’s attention that Local 5 will be hosting a Q&A workshop with our Health and Welfare representatives on Saturday, June 28, 2025. They’ll be here to assist or answer any questions regarding insurance claims, HRA and pension. If you or your spouse would like to attend please RSVP us at the local (708)754-6100.

With all of us celebrating Memorial Day, Monday May 26, I hope we all get a chance to reflect on those that sacrificed everything for us and our country!

Fraternally yours,

Frank Taffora

President/Business Manager