Picket lines went up Monday at high profile building sites in Winnipeg, including James Richardson International Airport and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights at the Forks.

Members of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters voted Sunday against a contract settlement with employers. The workers are reportedly seeking an 18 percent wage increase over three years.

A dozen or so construction workers wearing placards formed a picket line at the museum construction site early Monday. And pickets appeared at the airport as well.

Strike captain Rick Fournier said unionized plumbers and pipefitters overwhelmingly rejected a three percent per year wage offer from the Construction Labour Relations Association however CLRA spokesman Peter Wightman said the employer offered the union a 10.4 percent wage boost over three years.

Fournier said members of his union local are among the lowest paid workers in the trade in Canada.

Fournier said other trades including unionized iron workers and carpenters are expected to honour their picket lines.

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