WSJ: 'Man Camps' Gain Ground
'Man Camps' Gain Ground
Target Logistics Lands a Nearly $30 Million Housing Contract
Complete article at: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304049904579516010419049636
The man camps operated by Target Logistics are similar to dormitories, with private bedrooms and either private or shared bathrooms. Residents eat in common dining halls and the facilities often include recreation rooms and gyms. But the company has strict rules, including a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol on the premises. Also, overnight guests are forbiddenincluding spouses of the workers. (The workers' permanent homes often are as far as 600 miles away.) The facilities are monitored 24 hours a day and the cleaning staff is instructed to notify management if there is evidence of contraband.
"While there have been instances of undesirable activities elsewhere, Target Logistics considers guest and staff safety and security a top priority," said Randy Pruett, a spokesman for the company.
In a region where the cost of private housing is soaring, the camps are popular with workers despite the strict policies. Williston, N.D.considered the "capital" of the rural Bakken shale formationrecently was ranked by the apartment-listing website Apartment Guide as the most expensive place in the U.S. to rent. Apartment Guide estimates that the average rent on a one-bedroom apartment in Williston is $2,394 a month.
Apartments typically are rented by higher-earning managers. Most field workers "wouldn't be able to afford that," Mr. Penman said. "So it is a retention benefit. It's the cost of doing business in the Bakken because there is no other alternative."
Refer also to:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022552221
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022200206