Chanting ?Hutchinson Utilities ? do the right thing,? members of the Pipeline Workers of America demonstrated Wednesday to protest the hiring of a non-union, out-of-state company for a major pipeline project.
The Pipeline Workers of America is a coalition of the Laborers, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, Operating Engineers and Teamsters. The rally was held outside the Judicial Center near the state Capitol.
The Hutchinson Utilities Commission has issued $31 million in bonds to fund construction of an 89-mile gas pipeline from Trimont to Hutchinson and awarded a $20 million contract to JOMAX Construction Co. of Great Bend, Kansas.
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| Union members demonstrated against the hiring of a non-union contractor for a major pipeline project. |
?They (JOMAX) historically have brought in outside workers to do their work,? said Alan Kearney, an organizer for the Laborers District Council of Minnesota and North Dakota. He estimated from 350 to 400 workers will be needed for the pipeline project. ?That?s 400 Minnesotans who are out of work.?
Building Trades officers said JOMAX typically pays laborers about $8 an hour and heavy equipment operators about $12 an hour, less than half of the wage that unionized Minnesota workers receive.
Demonstrators targeted the state Judicial Center because Northern Natural Gas Co., which would lose business if the pipeline is built, was challenging the ?certificate of need? for the project, Kearney said. In addition, landowners have filed a class action suit, charging the Utilities Commission with seeking an excessive right-of-way on their property. A ruling on the suit is expected Friday, Kearney said.
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Construction on the pipeline was originally scheduled to start May 1. Building Trades officers said they hope the delays caused by the legal challenges will provide more opportunity for them to make the case that a Minnesota contractor that uses Minnesota workers should be hired for the project.
Kearney said it is ironic that the Utilities Commission would hire JOMAX, since Hutchinson Mayor Marlin Torgerson sits on the commission. ?He?s always preaching that people should spend their money locally, but he?s not doing that? with the pipeline, Kearney said.
Several other unions and organizations participated in Wednesday?s demonstration to show their support.
?Minnesotans are a fair people,? said Todd Anderson, a representative of the national AFL-CIO. ?When it?s explained to them their tax dollars are being used to undercut wages and benefits in this state, they will be with us.?
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| Three-year-old Joe Rohrer, Jr., son of Pipefitters union representative Joe Rohrer, showed his support. |
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Chanting ?Hutchinson Utilities ? do the right thing,? members of the Pipeline Workers of America demonstrated Wednesday to protest the hiring of a non-union, out-of-state company for a major pipeline project.
The Pipeline Workers of America is a coalition of the Laborers, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, Operating Engineers and Teamsters. The rally was held outside the Judicial Center near the state Capitol.
The Hutchinson Utilities Commission has issued $31 million in bonds to fund construction of an 89-mile gas pipeline from Trimont to Hutchinson and awarded a $20 million contract to JOMAX Construction Co. of Great Bend, Kansas.
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|
| Union members demonstrated against the hiring of a non-union contractor for a major pipeline project. |
?They (JOMAX) historically have brought in outside workers to do their work,? said Alan Kearney, an organizer for the Laborers District Council of Minnesota and North Dakota. He estimated from 350 to 400 workers will be needed for the pipeline project. ?That?s 400 Minnesotans who are out of work.?
Building Trades officers said JOMAX typically pays laborers about $8 an hour and heavy equipment operators about $12 an hour, less than half of the wage that unionized Minnesota workers receive.
Demonstrators targeted the state Judicial Center because Northern Natural Gas Co., which would lose business if the pipeline is built, was challenging the ?certificate of need? for the project, Kearney said. In addition, landowners have filed a class action suit, charging the Utilities Commission with seeking an excessive right-of-way on their property. A ruling on the suit is expected Friday, Kearney said.
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Construction on the pipeline was originally scheduled to start May 1. Building Trades officers said they hope the delays caused by the legal challenges will provide more opportunity for them to make the case that a Minnesota contractor that uses Minnesota workers should be hired for the project.
Kearney said it is ironic that the Utilities Commission would hire JOMAX, since Hutchinson Mayor Marlin Torgerson sits on the commission. ?He?s always preaching that people should spend their money locally, but he?s not doing that? with the pipeline, Kearney said.
Several other unions and organizations participated in Wednesday?s demonstration to show their support.
?Minnesotans are a fair people,? said Todd Anderson, a representative of the national AFL-CIO. ?When it?s explained to them their tax dollars are being used to undercut wages and benefits in this state, they will be with us.?
|
| Three-year-old Joe Rohrer, Jr., son of Pipefitters union representative Joe Rohrer, showed his support. |