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Politics & Government

Local 361 Protesting Use of Non-Union Workers at 340 Court St.

A development shrouded in controversy sees more of it.

After years of stops and starts, is finally rising. But not without controversy.

Indeed, from the communities perspective, the project has been troubled from the beginning. While the height of the proposed condominiums was the first issue - and also part of the impetus for the downzoning of Carroll Gardens - the problem now is union related. 

A 15-foot inflatable union rat signifying the use of non-union laborers at the work site has popped up at the development multiple times over the past two weeks.

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"We're not sure if those workers are certified, if they're being paid fairly, or even if they're legal workers," said Ironworkers Local 361 Organizer Diego Dumas on Friday morning. "The contractor's making a lot of money."

According to Anthony DeBlasie, Vice President and Assistant Business Agent of Ironworkers Local 361, the original contractor The Clarett Group had promised to assign a full union team. But that job lost funding due to the economic downturn, and the

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In June, after the project was taken over by The Davies Companies and tri-state giant Alchemy Properties Inc.

“Alchemy, which advertises itself as a 'do-right contractor', is really paying people very little to get the job done,” said DeBlasie, who has been keeping up with the construction developments of 340 Carroll Street since negotiations with the Clarett Group were first on the books in 2000.

Councilmember Brad Lander, D-Carroll Gardens expressed dissatisfaction with the contractors use of non-labor workers.

"I'm very disappointed that Alchemy Properties has chosen to use a non-union contractor, rather than use Monadnock Construction - the locally based, union contractor with a great track record for responsible construction," he said. "The prior developer's agreement to use Monadnock was an important part of their responsible development commitment to the community."

When contacted about the union's allegations, a rep from Alchemy Properties had "no comment."

DeBlasie hopes to address the issue further with the Councilman during an the

DeBlasie said the rat is used to keep people's attention directed at irresponsible construction sites. 

"We are trying to bring the matter to people's attention," said DeBlasie, adding the Union keeps a relatively constant presence at the site, to talk to neighbors and see how things are going.

“We also want to talk to the workers – we want to make sure that they are ok, that they know their rights. I know plenty of people who have come over to Ironworkers, after working for different companies. They come for a better quality of life, and they are very appreciative of what we do.”

Dumas, Local 361 organizer, said all workers should be treated fairly.

"We want people in there to join the union," he said, gesturing toward the site. "Someone could get hurt, and does the contractor care?"

DeBlasie fears that besides insufficient wages and lack of benefits hurting workers' livelihoods, the quality of work itself may suffer for the new housing complex.

"At the end of the day, you get what you pay for," he said.

DeBlasie admitted sometimes unions can have a bad reputation.

“People get a bad idea about the union. But we have an organized program, a top-of-the-line apprenticeship program for students and workers," he said. "We want to make sure people are getting the care they need.”

DeBlasie, a Brooklyn resident, noted that the local economy in Carroll Gardens once relied on the resident longshoreman and immigrant laborers of Italian and Irish decent, and has an established relationship with the union and workers' rights campaigns since the early days.

“This neighborhood has a strong union history,” he said. “The demographics are changing, people's needs are changing, and we just try to be there as a support.”

Vincent Joseph of the Union-Sackett Block Association, who has been vocal about neighborhood concerns for the upcoming structure itself, stated that the neighborhood concerns had been addressed, and that Carroll Gardens residents were looking forward to the project being finally completed.

The sentiment was echoed by a passerby, peering through the cut-out window in the blue plywood fence that flanks the site.

“Thank God it's finally being built!” the woman, a long time Sackett Street resident who preferred not to be named, exclaimed. “They're doing a good job – and fast, too!”

Another observer disagreed, however.

"This is a shame, how we can have underpaid people working right in front of us every day. It undercuts the work of the local guys, and of the union," lamented the passerby, who said he knew about the non-union workers' issue from attending community meetings whenever he could.

Though online buzz was generated by the comical appearance of the rat, most people passing the site are more interested in the final product, and what will become of the neighborhood skyline once the condos are completed.

“We're still trying to make people aware,” said DeBlasie of the issue. “We're there everyday, walking the picket line.”

Georgia Kral contributed reporting.

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