Local union workers have been walking through Palisades Center Mall recently wearing t-shirts that read, "Shame on Palisades Center for having out of state labor."
The reference is to the use of workers from outside local unions as labor in the ongoing renovation of Palisades Center. Pyramid Management Group responded to issue for the first time in a response to Patch Wednesday through comments by Palisades Center Director of Marketing Leemarie Dell'Acchio.
"Palisades Center has worked closely with the trade unions since the construction of the center in the mid-90s," Dell'Acchio said. "Since that time, the trade unions have completed a large amount of work in the center and will continue to do so in the future. Recently, we have met with labor leaders from the trade unions regarding the current center enhancements to keep them apprised of the scope of the current project.
"Palisades Center is an 'open shop' and we will continue to bid projects in that manner as we have done so in the past."
Stephen Reich, business manager for Laborers Local 754, said they had approached management of the Palisades Center to ask about using local people for the work. He said the workers currently being used are being paid well below union rates.
"Our issue is with the mall," Reich said. "When they needed support to get the thing built, the trades were there helping them. We were going to meetings and giving our support. Now they are not dealing with us. They are bringing in outsiders and paying wages that the people can't even afford lunch at the mall.
"We want to partner with the mall. We want to work with them. We understand that using union labor is more expensive. We think people here understand we pay prices to support that type of wage so people can live in the county."
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