Members of Local 110 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers called out Mauer Chevrolet last week, setting up two banners near the dealership that accused its electrical contractor, Noble Conservation Solutions, of “exploiting workers.”
![\"protest](\"https://www.workdayminnesota.org/upload/editor/Image/2011/November/1107Mauer_protest.jpg\") |
| Electricians manned a banner outside Mauer Chevrolet. Photo by Michael Moore |
Work on Mauer Chevrolet’s new service facility began about a month ago. Mike Dufour, assistant business manager of IBEW Local 110, said “95 percent” of the workers on site are trained and accredited members of union trades, but not the electrical workers.
The company, Dufour said, claims no union contractor posted a bid on the electrical work. The IBEW isn’t buying that story.
“In this economy all of our union contractors would have submitted a bid if they would’ve been given the opportunity,” Dufour said.
Other Building Trades unions from Minneapolis and St. Paul have called Mauer Chevrolet and urged the company to replace Noble Conservation Solutions with a union contractor. So far, ownership has refused to budge.
With about 500 electricians “on the bench,” Dufour said, Local 110 won’t soon forget the treatment it received from the “hometown dealership.”
“Mauer Chevrolet doesn’t seem to care at all about losing our members’ business,” he said. “The IBEW doesn’t pick many fights, but this is one.”
Local 110 is asking supporters to contact Billy Mauer at 651-455-6283 or by e-mail, and urge him not to do business with contractors that ignore our area’s standards for wages and benefits.
Michael Moore edits The Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation.
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Members of Local 110 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers called out Mauer Chevrolet last week, setting up two banners near the dealership that accused its electrical contractor, Noble Conservation Solutions, of “exploiting workers.”
|
| Electricians manned a banner outside Mauer Chevrolet.
Photo by Michael Moore |
Work on Mauer Chevrolet’s new service facility began about a month ago. Mike Dufour, assistant business manager of IBEW Local 110, said “95 percent” of the workers on site are trained and accredited members of union trades, but not the electrical workers.
The company, Dufour said, claims no union contractor posted a bid on the electrical work. The IBEW isn’t buying that story.
“In this economy all of our union contractors would have submitted a bid if they would’ve been given the opportunity,” Dufour said.
Other Building Trades unions from Minneapolis and St. Paul have called Mauer Chevrolet and urged the company to replace Noble Conservation Solutions with a union contractor. So far, ownership has refused to budge.
With about 500 electricians “on the bench,” Dufour said, Local 110 won’t soon forget the treatment it received from the “hometown dealership.”
“Mauer Chevrolet doesn’t seem to care at all about losing our members’ business,” he said. “The IBEW doesn’t pick many fights, but this is one.”
Local 110 is asking supporters to contact Billy Mauer at 651-455-6283 or by e-mail, and urge him not to do business with contractors that ignore our area’s standards for wages and benefits.
Michael Moore edits The Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation.