Strike looms over Ground Zero site

By CHUCK BENNETT

July 3, 2006

Developers are bracing for a citywide construction workers' strike that could further bog down rebuilding at Ground Zero.

The dispute centers on the union that represents the 3,200 operators of cranes and other heavy machinery and the association that employs them. But tens of thousands of other construction workers could join the work stoppage in sympathy, potentially affecting 1,000 different sites, if an agreement isn't reached after the holiday.

The contract expired at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Tishman Construction Corp. canceled all work that day at the Freedom Tower in anticipation of a strike. Tishman is building the 1,776-foot skyscraper. Talks between the International Union of Operating Engineers' Local 15 and the General Contractors Association of Greater New York reportedly broke off Friday. It was unclear yesterday whether the two sides would continue negotiations today. Union and contractor representatives did not return calls for comment.

"Work on the foundation of the Freedom Tower was called off yesterday in anticipation of a strike," said Bud Perrone, a spokesman for Tishman. "Because of the holiday weekend, there is no work planned until Wednesday."

Officials with the Port Authority, which owns Ground Zero, and the union told reporters during the weekend that a strike was already called.

Friday, Chris Ward, managing director of the contractors association, said the union rejected an offer for 6 percent raises each year over five years. Local 15 members earn between $72 and $82.65 an hour.