Labor unions protest Bridgeport work site after CT issues stop-work orders to NY developer
About 200 people gathered outside the old SNET building on John Street in downtown Bridgeport Saturday, which an out-of-state developer is turning into housing.
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About 200 people gathered outside the old SNET building on John Street in downtown Bridgeport Saturday, which an out-of-state developer is turning into housing.
"The developer who's renovating this high-rise was issued three stop-work orders last month by the Connecticut Department of Labor for the kind of alleged labor violations that take jobs away from Bridgeport workers," said Jeanette Herron of the Bridgeport City Council.
"They come in and pay workers under the table, or pay them as independent contractors, which means the workers don't get Social Security credits or protection if they get hurt -- and the local tax base is robbed of a substantial revenue stream. It's wrong on so many different levels and we are here to say, 'Not in our city'," Herron said.
Members of Carpenters Local 326 and IBEW Local 488 turned out to take part in the protest.
"We're here not because we're connected to this job -- because we are not -- but because we have the loudest voice," said Marc Okum of Carpenters Local 326.
The developer did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
