Update: Striking Cretex Workers Crowd Shakopee City Hall

The strike at Cretex Companies in Shakopee has moved into its fourth week, and union members have now asked the city for help.

Members of Laborers' Local 563 attended the Tuesday, July 16 Shakopee city council meeting to provide information about the dispute with Cretex Companies and to ask for city involvement.

The main issue, workers say, is their pension. The company proposes ending company contributions to pensions and instead matching funds to a 401(k). More than 50 members attended the council meeting, according to the union press release. 

"We'd like to ask for some help," Tim Mackey, business manager for Laborers' Local 563, said to the council.

He applauded the city for it's work in adding jobs to the city and asked the council to request that Cretex Companies return to the bargaining table.

“We’ve got members that work here, live here and are making plans to retire in Shakopee too," Mackey is quoted in the release, "but they won’t be able to do that unless they can save their pension and return to work. It is our sincere hope that city leaders are as committed to preserving existing good jobs in this community as they are to bringing in more jobs from other places.”

Mayor Brad Tabke told the union that the council would not take action on the issue at the time, but thanked them for coming.

"I'm very glad that you came to show us what is going on," said Tabke.

Mackey requested future meetings with the mayor and council members to further discuss the labor dispute.

The around 40 union employees have been on strike since June 19 and will continue to picket at Cretex Companies in Shakopee.

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