Dive summary:
- Protests by dozens of workers in Palm Beach County, Florida over what they say are unfair hiring practices have led to an inquiry by the county’s Inspector General.
- Union members say that Solid Waste Authority has been bypassing local union workers and is instead bringing in out-of-state workers.
- Waste Authority officials say they are well above the minimum local hiring commitments contractors set up; the Authority says 37% of the skilled labor jobs and 92% of the unskilled jobs are held by local workers.
From the article:
Union representatives dispute that contractors are meeting local-hire standards. They say it just takes a drive through construction site parking lots to see all the out-of-state license plates.
“We are willing to do whatever it takes to do this work,” Roger Morgan, of the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 630, told county commissioners on Feb. 13. “It is time that our local elected officials look into taking care of our local taxpaying citizens.” ...
