Steel mill’s expansion leaves St. Paul Pipefitters out in the cold

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/articles/steel-mill%E2%80%99s-expansion-leaves-st-paul-pipefitters-out-cold




By Michael Moore, Union Advocate
January 12, 2014

ST. PAUL

State and local taxpayers are backing a $50 million expansion project underway at Gerdau’s St. Paul steel mill with a package of incentives, grants and forgivable loans. But members of St. Paul Pipefitters Local 455 say the project has left local workers out in the cold.

The dispute stems from Gerdau’s decision to accept a Georgia contractor’s bid to do mechanical work on the expansion project, which has otherwise been an all-union construction job.

Industrial Construction Services’ bid, according to Local 455 Business Manager Rick Magler, came in 50 percent lower than the closest Minnesota union contractor’s bid, raising concerns about worker training, job quality and area wage standards on the government-supported project.

Pipefitters from Local 455 this week shared those concerns with the public, manning a banner and distributing leaflets outside Gerdau’s plant, located near the intersection of Interstate 494 and Highway 61.

FULL story at link.