Union Protest Against Use of Non Union Labor At Roosevelt Island Hudson Related Southtown Construction Site - Scabby The Inflatable Rat Joins Protest, Resident Arrested Today For Menacing Protester With Knife

Roosevelt Island resident Karen LichtBraun asked earlier today:

What is up with the strike at the construction site? They have a large plastic rat on the side of the road

Image of Scabby The Inflatable Rat at Roosevelt Island Construction Protest from Karen LichtBraun

There have been ongoing union demonstrations protesting use of non-union labor for construction of Hudson Related's Southtown Riverwalk Building 7 recently.

 Rendering of Hudson Related Riverwalk Building 7

Last Friday, the union brought over Scabby the Inflatable Rat to join the protest.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety 24 Hour Blotter reported

12/27/13 - 1100 - 475 Main St - Union Demonstration - PSD respond - Report taken.

No arrests were made at the demonstration on Friday.

An arrest was made at the union demonstration today. Apparently, a Roosevelt Island resident was disturbed by the noise coming from the union demonstration this morning and threatened a protester with a knife. According to a NYPD Press Spokesperson, the Roosevelt Island resident was arrested for "menacing".

Also, Ed McWilliams, a representative from NYC Carpenters union sent the following letter to RIOC President Charlene Indelicato:

PROJECT: 480 MAIN STREET MANHATTAN Block: 1373 Lot: 8

Dear Ms Indelicato,

It has come to our attention that RNC INDUSTRIES LLC may be currently seeking to perform work on one or more of your projects. Please be informed that the New York City District Council of Carpenters has a labor dispute with RNC INDUSTRIES LLC because they do not meet area labor standards. RNC INDUSTRIES LLC does not pay the area standard wages to all their employees including providing or fully paying for health benefits and pension.

The New York City District Council of Carpenters has made a solid commitment of personnel and resources to protect and preserve area standard wages, including providing or making payments for family health care and a dignified retirement for all area carpentry craft workers. Therefore, we are asking that you use your managerial discretion to not allow these non area standard contractors to perform any work on any of your projects unless and until they generally meet area labor standards for all their carpentry craft work.

We want you to be aware that our new and aggressive public information campaign against RNC INDUSTRIES LLC will unfortunately impact all parties associated with projects where they are employed. That campaign will include highly visible lawful banner displays and distribution of handbills at the jobsite and premises of property owners, developers, general contractors, and other firms involved with projects involving a non area standard contractor. We certainly prefer to work cooperatively with all involved parties rather than to have an adversarial relationship with them but cannot sit idly by while these entities condone and/or support the non-area standards contractor.

If you agree to comply with the request we have made in this letter, or if our information about a non area standard contractor being involved with any of your projects is incorrect, please call the undersigned immediately... Doing so will provide the greatest protection against your firm becoming publicly involved in this dispute through misunderstanding or error.

Will ask Ms. Indelicato for a response and post an update if received.

Also, the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) has invited the Carpenters Union representative, Mr. McWilliams, to speak at the January meeting of the Common Council.  At least one RIRA member has objected to inviting the union representative to the monthly RIRA meeting  but suggested that if the union member is invited, so should a representative from the building contractor/developer.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE 12/31 - RIOC President Indelicato responds:

RIOC does not not dispute anyones right to free speech, however, any such demonstrations must be done in an orderly and legal manner which will not infringe on the rights of others in the community.

We at RIOC hope that 2014 will be a year of cooperation, growth and prosperity for Roosevelt Island.