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Saturday, June 27, 2009
Contractors Call Union 'Unfair'
By Rivkela Brodsky
Copyright © 2009 Albuquerque Journal Journal Staff Writer
This time, Carpenters Local 1319 is being called "unfair."
After targeting local contractor Lone Sun Builders Inc. earlier this month in front of the St. Francis Hotel with signs saying "Lone Sun Unfair," the Associated General Contractors New Mexico Building Branch published a letter in an ad that ran in the Albuquerque Journal's North edition last week addressing the tactics used during the demonstration.
The AGC, which represents union and nonunion contractors, said in the letter it recognizes the right of employees to seek union representation but that employees of Lone Sun were not. It said the union was possibly trying to "expand its market share" by creating a "negative-media event."
"There are more civil and effective ways to settle any difference between labor and management other than outright demonstrations which tend to debase the whole construction profession, without the opportunity for the employer being targeted to prove it pays living wages, provides an employee benefit program, which includes health insurance and pension, and has an outstanding job-site safety record," the letter said.
"We wanted to make a statement to the general tactics as a whole," Jackie Gonzales, director of industry relations and public affairs for the association, told the Journal on Friday.
The letter only addresses the specific incident between Lone Sun Builders and the union, but other association members have complained about similar protests in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, she said.
A copy of the letter was sent to Local 1319, Gonzales said.
Calls to Local 1319 were referred to the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, which did not a return a Journal request for comment.
Local 1319 and the council have remained silent on how businesses are targeted and the reason behind their demonstrations, other than it has to do with "area standard wages."
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