LOCAL 15 SHEET METAL WORKERS PICKET SCAB HVAC JOB AT FLORIDA VA HOSPITAL

[Omaha Steve]

http://gangbox.wordpress.com/2008/11/30/local-15-sheet-metal-workers-picket-scab-hvac-job-at-florida-va-hospital/

Posted in Uncategorized by gangbox on the November 30, 2008

from the INDEPENDENT FLORIDA ALLIGATOR:


Three inflatable rats, each standing 16 feet tall, swayed in the wind outside Malcom Randall Veterans Administration Medical Center on Archer Road Tuesday.

Each rat, equipped with a cigar in its mouth, held a banner reading “Shame, Shame, Shame on Malcom Randall VA Hospital.”


(Sarah Hsu / Alligator Staff) Cars drive by two-story-tall inflatable rats on Archer Road Tuesday afternoon. The rats were part of a protest by members of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association who were against hiring non-union contractors for the upcoming VA Hospital expansion project.


Beside the rats stood four members of the Sheet Metal Workers Union, protesting a contracting dispute with the hospital.
The hospital will use South Seminole Sheet Metal Inc., a non–union subcontractor for heating and ventilation work in an upcoming expansion project.

“Why would Mr. Cappello, a hospital director, even consider using a non–union contractor that doesn’t provide full family healthcare as a company–paid benefit?” said Sam McIntosh, spokesman for Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 15. He referred to Thomas Cappello, director of the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.

“Union sheet metal contractors provide benefits that put their employees and families firmly in the middle class. We provide pension, representation, grievance procedures and vacations to all our employees,” McIntosh said.

FULL story at link.