Construction union members picket Sitrin's choice of contractor

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Construction union members picket Sitrin's choice of contractor

WKTV News

Story Created: Jul 24, 2008 at 2:32 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 24, 2008 at 2:32 PM EDT

NEW HARTFORD - A little rain is not stopping union members of a local construction company from picketing the Sitrin Home project.

Armed with signs and banners, the union workers are protesting Sitrin's decision to choose a Syracuse company as the general contractor. They say it has no contract with area labor organizations and is instead hiring subcontractors from out of state.

"It would help more local people work on this project and that's what we need more local people because it would revolves about going back into the local economy," says Local 747 Union Rep. Fran Hardy.

Sitrin officials had this to say in response:

"Sitrin's contract with NorthEast Construction...requires prevailing wages and wage supplements to be paid not only to the employees of NorthEast Construction but also to employees of any subcontractor who performs work on the project. Sitrin is satisfied that all contractors and subcontractors on the project are in compliance with this requirement."

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Sunday, Aug 3 at 7:23 AM tom wrote ...

I'm very proud to say I work for Northeast Construction Services. I have been there for over 10 years and was only laid off for a one week period. I make union wages and have two weeks paid vacation,and a 401k that they match. My co-workers are very hard workers and provide a good honest days work for the great pay the receive. We turn out a great product for whom we are working for. Thank you and have a great day

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Friday, Jul 25 at 10:37 PM thanks unions wrote ...

Andrew, if a union is the only thing keeping the working man out of poverty then why aren't those guys who are picketing working in the height of the construction season. Hmm, go figure! Its funny because my non union company is fantastic and has more work than the union scabs could ever imagine. But keep whining and crying because the more you do to the local politicians the more my rate of pay increases.

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Friday, Jul 25 at 5:41 PM unions suck wrote ...

i was in a union at st lukes once.....the more i made the more they took. and my friends at faxton made just as much as me. so what did they do for me?? took a percentage of my pay, had a cheesy picnic once a year yep thats it.

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Friday, Jul 25 at 2:01 PM Jimmy Hoffa wrote ...

By the way I'm buried at the 25 yard line not at mid field!

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Friday, Jul 25 at 1:19 PM Super Super. wrote ...

Those non-union boys probably make the same wage rate as the union boys. But the union labor cost way more cause you have to pay all those BA's to walk around causing trouble. Their non-union but not fools. They make the same wage but cost the owner less with much less whining and no morning break stretched to a half hour. Union boy's are brain washed and just greedy. You can work non union, make the same money, get a 401k and two weeks off PAID a year. By the way are those PAID picketers?

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Friday, Jul 25 at 11:34 AM Tim wrote ...

Take a look a what the construction industry did with the last capital project for the UCSD. Work never done, lawsuits, shoddy work, huge price increases. No wonder they are looking to bring in out of town labor. Here's hoping they actually work.

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Friday, Jul 25 at 10:06 AM Andrew O wrote ...

Steve - you're the joke: either a non-union contractor too cheap to pay a fair, union wage or a worker whose head is screwed on wrong. Unions are the only thing that keeps the worker out of poverty and sub-standard wages and benefits. Union yes, solidarity forever, baby.

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Friday, Jul 25 at 10:02 AM Jimmy Hoffa wrote ...

Yes unions time has come and gone. All they do is protect lazy bums and make tax payers pay more (teachers,Goverment,towns, etc) Upstate NY will soon become ghost towns due to Unions(come on the head of the New Hartford teachers union was upset that their co-pay went to $20 for out of network Dr's) Unions need to realize they are the problem not the answer!

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Thursday, Jul 24 at 8:07 PM steve wrote ...

Unions are a joke. They're great for delaying projects, providing lazy workers, and destroying the integrety of non-union companies. Someone ask those picketers how they feel when they go out of town to work and take away from the locals in that community. But they can do that, there union! Don't forget to pay your dues!!!

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Thursday, Jul 24 at 6:04 PM bogonk wrote ...

you've got to be an american(local) worker before you can be an american(local) consumer

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Thursday, Jul 24 at 3:10 PM Stan Sitrin wrote ...

Yes Mexico is out of state and ALOT CHEAPER WORKERS!

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