Pubdate: Thu, 02 May 2002 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2002 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Section: Metro Briefing Author: Stacy Albin Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) NEW HAVEN: CARPENTERS ON STRIKE About 3,000 union carpenters went on strike yesterday, after negotiations on a statewide contract stalled over wage increases and random drug testing. On Tuesday, the union, the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, rejected the latest offer from management, including hourly wage increases up to $8.05 for highway construction workers, who now make $28.85 an hour. The union had sought an increase of up to $10.05 per hour. It also opposes random drug testing and pre-employment physicals, said Bert Durand, a spokesman for the union. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom