Report: Nationals Stadium On-Time and On-Budget
posted 10:24 pm Wed January 30, 2008 - Washington
The Laborers' International Union of North America and LIUNA Local 657 says they are employing hundreds of D.C. residents and the positions provide health care. Free training was also offered to employees, so after the stadium work is finished, workers will be able to find other opportunities.
"For many stadium workers this is their first job with real training and benefits. Building the stadium will be the start of a career in the construction industry for hundreds of D.C. residents," said Anthony Frederick, LIUNA Local 657 Business Manager.
Talking about the construction, the scoreboard was turned on Wednesday. "It's one of the largest in North America, so the score board is being tested right now. Very excited about that because the picture is phenomenal," said Chartese Burnett.
The $300-a-game Presidential seats behind home plate, framed by stone walls ans topped with real granite, are mostly in. "We've been working on it for about three months now. We've got about another week's worth of work or so, so we're just about out of here," said Robert Radke who is a stone mason.
Other features of the stadium include an oval-shaped club room where the players change, a deluxe President's Club complete with white linen table service and windows overlooking indoor batting practice, and two large whirlpools and a rehab pool equipped with a treadmill on the bottom for players.
Niesha Harris, a Local 657 member, D.C. resident and mother said, "Because of the stadium work, I have gained more skills and experience to compete for jobs in the future." A "Project Labor Agreement" was formed by the city, contractor, workers, unions and community groups. "Local governments and Fortune 500 companies have used Project Labor Agreements to accomplish large scale, complex construction projects with much success," said government affairs expert Gerry Waites.
According to the report:
With wages ranging from $15 to $28 per hour, the stadium project brought over $12 million in income to D.C. families.
Latest Comment on Report: Nationals Stadium On-Time and On-Budget
wx insider
8:45 am on 01/31/08
To quote Bill Clinton, "this is the biggest fairytale I have ever seen...".
The union falls well short of hiring locals, and calls it a success. Garbage. DC officials were scammed into this thing by signing a project labor agreement (PLA), which excluded nonunion members. Keep in mind that nonunion workers make up a majority of the construction workforce in DC -- and the nation.
DC residents who don't belong to a union were cut out of this job. That is a fact. In light of the "noose" incident, I hope DC officials have learned that a PLA won't keep racial problems off the job site. I would be willing to bet that there were more incidents that didn't make the news.
DC officials should keep in the mind that us nonunion workers vote in elections, too!
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or
advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges.
Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly.
Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.
© 2008 WJLA-TV
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The 'RUNNING MAN' icon is a registered trademark of America Online, Inc.
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.