Carpenters Union Targets Construction Company

Posted: Feb 26, 2008 07:29 PM PST

Nampa, Idaho -- A non-union construction company owner in Nampa is claiming he's being harassed because union members are following and picketing him everywhere he goes.

What's the union's beef with the owner? It all comes down to wages.

The carpenter's union feels this construction company doesn't pay standard union wages or provide medical benefits. Commercial Constructors claims it does.

 

The union says it wants to inform the public when they trail someone. The owner says it harassment.

"They follow me. I mean they flat followed me right on my tail, ran through the red lights to stay on me," said Steve Packard.

Packard owns Commercial Constructors, Inc., in Nampa.

"Under federal labor law, we have the right to tail him. Ambulatory picket is what it's called and we can follow him to find out where his job sites are," said The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Representative Ron Robbins.

Robbins claims they have a labor dispute with CCI, even though the company is not part of the union. Robbins says wherever Packard goes, so do protesters and the labor dispute.

Last Thursday, union members followed Packard to Wal Mart, then back to his office where his female employees were showing up for work.

"These gentlemen proceeded to taunt them as they came and they got out binoculars and were voyaging them through our windows," said Packard.

"Right now we're focused primarily on Steve. We do have other actions going against other contractors," said Robbins.

But it was during a lunch at 2nd Street Deli where Steve was really surprised.

"They were yelling very loudly and there were using profanity and you could hear it inside the building," said Packard.

"That I know of, none of that took place.  When you do business who have questionable business ethics then you open yourself up to this," said Robbins.

The owner of the deli says between eight and 10 union members were blocking his driveway and intimidating his customers.He says the protesters did use foul language when he tried to dispel the commotion.

The union later sent 2nd Street Deli a letter apologizing for the incident.

"I just disagree with the tactics the union, the guerrilla tactics the union is imposing on us," said Packard.

"We know when low-wages contractors like CCI are successful of forcing low wages down, then the community suffers," said Robbins.

The carpenter's union says it will be satisfied when CCI increases its wages and offers health benefits to employees.

CCI welcomes union members to apply with the company, saying their starting salary is above the union's base pay.

 

http://www.local635boise.org/

 

 http://www.carpenterspnwrc.org/