The Spring Construction season is approaching and some trade union members want to take advantage of new building projects, bridge and road improvement jobs.

But without a state capital budget in place finding those kinds of jobs might be difficult.

Some legislative leaders got an earful from trade union officials during a roundtable discussion in Bloomington today.

Trade union members say high paying construction jobs are scarce without a state capital budget in place.

Rick Terven with the Illinois Pipe Trades Association said, "There's a lot of jobs sitting out here that could be going on right now. People are sitting at home with no wages. Their health insurance is giving them a bill in the mail. They're losing their pension hours. I think it's a tremendous effect that this could have in putting a lot of our people back to work."

House Republican Minority Leader Tom Cross and Bloomington area state Representative Dan Brady met with several union representatives, Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan about their capital needs.

One union rep says many of his members have taken lower paying jobs because they cannot find work.

Jim Cross with Teamsters Local 26 said, "When George Ryan had the Build Illinois, 12 billion dollars was put in there. We had a lot more people working, they were doing roads, schools, doing all this building. Four years ago our union hall had 3,200 members, we've got 2,000 now. We've lost 1,200 in the last four years."

Union officials urged Brady and Cross to keep communication going between Governor Rod Blagojevich and legislative leaders. Cross says despite the contentious session last year he is optimistic they will approve a capital budget.

Governor Rod Blagojevich has proposed a $25 billion multi-year capital program. He wants to pay for part of it by leasing the state lottery and selling bonds backed by road funds.