Drywallers' demands anger unions - By Evan Caldwell, Longview Daily News, WA
The drywallers, represented by Portland-based Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, went on strike Friday after talks with the association representing Western Washington drywall contractors fell through. About 25 drywall workers continue to strike at Lower Columbia College's new theater project. They join about 1,300 picketing drywallers throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Leaders of some painters', masons' and iron workers' unions say they will continue to cross the carpenters' picket lines until they have assurance that the language is gone for good. The disputed language, Zuercher said, would expand drywallers' duties to jobs already done by other union trades workers.