Masons 'rat out' firm for non-union work
Inflatable rodent, protesters set up in front of N.B. schools
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

JENNIFER AMATO Members of the masonry union Local 594 stand in front of the giant inflatable rat they have set up outside of Judd Elementary School in North Brunswick in protest of only non-union workers being hired by the construction project's subcontractor.

NORTH BRUNSWICK - A group of local unionized masons are picketing the construction jobs at Parsons and Judd Elementary schools and Linwood Middle School because non-union workers were hired to complete the work.

Prestige Construction in East Brunswick was hired as a subcontractor by general contractor Rampart Construction during the bid specifications set forth by the Board of Education two to three years ago for the school expansions. The projects have been going on for about two months and are expected to be completed by next summer.

However, union members of Local 594 are concerned because they have been shut out of the chance to work. A group of laborers have been walking in front of the schools since last week because they said since union and non-union workers are paid the same hourly rate, they should be allowed to work together on a job. Instead, they claimed that Prestige only hires non-union workers.

"The union is trying to talk to Prestige but there is no response, so we have to resort to the picket line," said Marcelo Idrovo, an organizer with the union. "Peo- ple from this town also deserve an opportunity to do some work on this project. … We as an organization have a lot of members from this community and they are looking for an opportunity to do some work."

Idrovo added, "The union members from the community are out of work and are fighting for what is right, and that is for the benefit of the community."

The other concern is that union workers must go through specified training and apprenticeships, while non-union workers do not. However, Superintendent Brian Zychowski said that no matter who is employed, the district has inspectors, a construction management firm and architects who perform quality checks during the entire process. He also said that other contractors working at the schools, such as electricians and plumbers, are unionized.

"The law is clear that work being done with public funds at minimum must be done at prevailing wage, but they don't have to use union labor," he said, adding that he is not familiar with work done by Prestige.

Local 594 has been out from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the last week. They also set up a 20-foot inflatable rat across the street as a sign of contractors who don't like to play by the rules. Idrovo said the union workers would continue to try to settle with Prestige because they want to work on the project.

Representatives from Prestige could not be reached for comment.