Another union joins picket of Belleville construction site
Thursday, September 9, 2010
BY MARIA KARIDIS
Belleville Times

Now in its third day, the union picket of Belleville's Motorcycle Mall construction site continues, with a third union joining the fight.

Members of Bloomfield's Ironworkers Local 11, newcomer Laborers Local 1153, and Newark's Insulators Local 32 say they will picket "for as long as it takes."

The thirty sign-wearing union members, and their two large inflatable rats, are picketing the employment of non-union workers at the construction project.

"We hear they have no inclination to hire us," said Local 1153 member Eddie Guterrez.

Not only are the hired workers non-union, but picketers also believe them to be illegal immigrants.

Local 11 member Ronald Jelinksy said there were more site-workers on Tuesday, the first day of the picket, than there have been since.

"That really has us wondering if they're legal. They saw us and didn't come back," Jelinsky said. "Maybe they didn't want trouble."

The site-workers allegedly spoke to a non-union civilian, wherein they reported being offered $100 cash per day, no taxes necessary, for their services. Said civilian made that information known to the union picketers, according to Guterrez.

These alleged facts are yet another on the unions' list of grievances.

"Members of our union are from Belleville and the surrounding towns, and many of them have bought motorcycles from the Motorcycle Mall. They support that business. We train our workers, they are very highly skilled, and to see this is something we can't accept," Osborne said.

Motorcycle Mall owner John Resciniti refused comment to the Times.

Although potential illegal immigrants got the job over the unions, picketers are nonetheless concerned for those non-union workers' well-being. Since Tuesday, picketers have argued that there is an abundant lack of safety on the site.

They pointed out several safety issues in a previous Times article, and today, picketers noted, among other things: active electrical machinery being used next to a large fuel tank, with no fire extinguisher in site; a temporary retaining wall which is cracking in spots, while workers stand in a ditch directly below, and a chipping gun parked within a few feet of power lines.

Representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) told the Times that no one has reported safety issues at the construction site, and OSHA therefore has not conducted an investigation of it.

Local 1153 Business Manager Eddie Osborne, on account of his union's only becoming involved with the picket today, said he has not had the opportunity to contact the Motorcycle Mall owner or local officials.

The other two unions' business managers supposedly have reached out to affiliated parties, but neither manager was available for comment.

Belleville's mayor, township manager, and township attorney were also not available for comment today.

Township councilman John Notari, whose ward includes the construction site, said he was not aware of the picket until the Times contacted him today.
"This really is not a town issue, though; it's an issue for the developers," he said.

Notari did express his intent to contact the township manager to discuss alleged safety issues on the site, though.


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