The local labor union picketing the new Strikes bowling lounge near 41st and Irving streets has ceased its protest as the alley prepares to open.
The Millwrights Local 1906 has ended formal opposition to Strikes because major construction at the 14,000-square-foot site has ended.
According to Strikes co-owner Scott Caplan, the Millwrights picketed Strikes because AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc. -- the company that sells bowling lanes -- hired licensed workers to construct the bowling alley instead of hiring union employees.
The warranty for the lanes mandated that they be installed by licensed professionals.
John Hooven, council representative of the Millwrights, accused the contractor hired by AMF of breaking area wages and standards.
Hooven declined to specify which standards the Millwrights felt were being violated.
Asked if he supported a boycott of Strikes, Hooven said, "I won't be there, but I can't tell people what to do."
Caplan says he hopes that there won't be any more trouble with the union.
"They haven't been there for about a week," Caplan said. "So we have a feeling that they have given up on this."
Caplan said that while he believes in the unions, he felt that their tactics this time were inappropriate.
"They stopped us from working for a while," Caplan said, saying that the union picketers blocked access to the construction site.
Caplan sought and received an injunction against the union picketers at the end of November and noticed an immediate decline in union opposition.
Before the injunction, "some days there would be 20 people," Caplan said.
Despite the conflicts between Strikes and the Millwrights, the alley is scheduled to open in the beginning of Februrary -- a month behind schedule.
But a "soft opening" could occur as early as next week, according to Caplan, to allow the lounge to ease out any kinks in its operation before the grand opening.
"It will be nice to have something a little different to do."
College junior Merri said that because she did not see or hear the picketers, the protests will not affect her as a consumer of the new night spot.
"I never saw" the picketers, Johnston said, "so I think personally it probably won't affect me very much."
