Pat Barcas photo
Unions protest out-of-state, non-union labor being used July 11 at the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Warrenville. Each remodeling job is taking an estimated $70,000 out of the local economy and the non-union labor operates in an unsafe manner.
By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.
WARRENVILLE — Non-union labor from out-of-state has crept into Warrenville and union members assembled last week to let the public know about it.
Members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 701 and several other area unions put up two Scabby the Rat inflatables July 11 at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant on Diehl Road in Warrenville. Bill Habel, business manager for Local 701, led the charge saying the substandard remodeling job is a symptom of a larger problem.
“I’m seeing a lot of these workers coming from Michigan, where Right to Work laws have been passed. They’re getting out of there and coming here,” Habel said.
The protest got a good response from passing motorists, who honked in recognition and in favor of the protest.
Habel said this is the second Buffalo Wild Wings store in DuPage County to receive a remodeling facelift done with non-union labor and he says he witnessed unsafe practices ranging from using aluminum ladders for electrical work, to men climbing into dumpsters wearing shorts and sneakers.
“They do these jobs quick — they started Tuesday [July 9] of this week, the store will re-open Monday [July 15]. It’s sloppy work,” he said.
Habel said a lot of union money is spent at establishments such as Buffalo Wild Wings.
“When this store and others went up, they used 100 percent union labor. We want people to know, they aren’t doing that anymore. Let Buffalo Wild Wings know, call corporate, express your displeasure and tell them to use union labor,” he stressed.
“Be on the lookout. If it’s not union, let them know about it. A lot of union money gets spent eating and drinking here, and we’re not happy,” Habel added.
The jobs around the Chicago area each total about $70,000 in costs. Habel said many more stores are scheduled for a remodel, although he’s not sure of an exact number.
“If you multiply that $70,000 it’s a huge economic impact and a huge labor impact. The Rat speaks for itself, but this is always a last resort,” said Habel. “We have a vested interest in the community, when out-of-state workers are used, the money goes with them when they leave. We want to emphasize that union training means you don’t work in an unsafe manner, and that’s better for everyone.”