Displaying items by tag: labour

Canada: Heidelberg Materials North America has locked out 44 employees of its concrete plants in Kamloops, Kelowna, and Penticton, British Columbia, amid unresolved labour negotiations. Castanet News has reported that the workers’ union says it is waiting for dates for a mediation by the provincial Labour Board.

Heidelberg Materials North America Director of Communications Jeff Sieg said "Heidelberg Materials has been in negotiations, unfortunately, attempts to reach a fair and competitive labour agreement have been unsuccessful. Heidelberg Materials remains committed to finding a path forward and is hopeful continued discussions at the bargaining table will enable us to reach a fair and mutually agreeable offer."

Cyprus: Ready-mix concrete companies have raised their prices by 5%, following a wage settlement with workers in December 2024. Phileleftheros News has reported that this will correspond to extra costs of €4/m³ for customers.

Construction industry representatives reportedly claim that the rise in prices exceeds that of labour costs for concrete producers.

US: Icon Build has nearly completed the construction of the upcoming Wolf Ranch new neighbourhood in Georgetown, Texas, using its 14m-wide 5t Vulcan 3D printer. Denmark-based architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group designed the award-winning development, which will be entirely 3D printed using Icon Build’s high-printability Lavacrete concrete. CNN has reported that that the method of construction addresses on-going local labour and materials shortages.

Icon Build CEO Jason Ballard said "The US faces a shortfall of approximately 5m new homes, so there is a profound need to rapidly increase supply without compromising quality, beauty or sustainability, and that is exactly the strength of our technology.”

Canada: Threatened strike action at Heidelberg Materials North America’s ready-mix concrete plants in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, is on hold after the company and the Teamsters Local 213 union agreed to mediation meetings. Local press has reported that the meetings will seek to draw up a new contract for workers at the producer’s ready-mix concrete plants. The union previously voted down Heidelberg Materials North America’s last and final offer in the on-going contract dispute in April 2024.

Heidelberg Materials North America said “The potential strike notice will be held in abeyance until a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified or the mediator is unable to resolve differences between the parties."

Austria: PERI and STRABAG have used a COBOD 3D printer to successfully build Europe’s first 3D printed office building in Hausleiten, Lower Austria.

PERI board member for innovation and marketing Thomas Imbacher said "The building in Hausleiten is a milestone for STRABAG, for PERI, for all involved. We are convinced that 3D printing of buildings will be part of the future of construction, as this technology offers solutions for challenges that are currently occupying our industry: digitalisation, efficiency, shortage of skilled workers and much more."