Minority contractors and nonunion construction workers said Monday a proposed Pittsburgh Public Schools policy requiring union work forces is discriminatory and will make them unable to compete.
The school board is expected to vote Wednesday on the controversial measure, which would require nearly all construction contracts to be filled by 90 percent union workers. The policy would go into effect only after unions provide apprenticeships for Pittsburgh students.
"This is a very discriminatory policy," said Earl Brooks, chief executive officer of APCON Inc., a construction company, and president of the Black Contractors Association. "This is big union versus the small guy."
The policy applies to contracts of $25,000 or more. If in place now, the policy would affect 87 percent of the district's contracts during the past year and account for 99 percent of the $36.4 million spent, according to a memo to the board from Paula Castleberry, the district's minority/women business coordinator.
"This is borderline extortion," said Eric Roberson, president of HNMS, Inc., a window-blind supplier, who said half of his business is with the school district. "I wonder how the unions would respond if the tables were turned and we said, 'Give all the work to us.'"
Supporters say the measure creates educational opportunities for students. The contract requirement would also benefit workers, because union workers get health and retirement benefits.
"It's a whale of a good deal for our kids. It's really going to open up a lot of doors for our kids," said school board member Jean Fink, who is pushing for the project labor agreement. Officials still are working out the details of how the apprenticeship will work, and the labor agreement will not take effect until then, she said.
Board members Mark Brentley Sr. and Randall Taylor, both of whom are black, said they want the board to table the measure this week. Brentley said it eliminates the level playing field the district has created for disadvantaged, small and minority- and women-owned businesses.
Taylor said he wants to add a provision requiring contractors to use a minimum number of minority union workers. Contractors and construction workers told him that would not work because unions hand out jobs based on seniority, and if minority workers joined now, they would be at the bottom of the list.
Brooks said the apprentice provision is a "Trojan horse," because those trained would not have the seniority to get work.
Brooks said he would have to lay off 18 of his 20 employees and replace them with union workers he does not know. He would have to pay the union $500 in union dues and fees for each of the nonunion workers.
The higher costs would be passed on to the school district, he said.
Black construction workers, who attended a news conference called by minority contractors outside the district's offices in Oakland yesterday to protest the policy, said they are not interested in joining the union.
Garrie Winstead, 45, a crew chief from Oakand, said he chose not to join the union because he likes his employer, APCON, and does not want to be assigned to different employers.
"It's (now) a fair playing ground for everyone. We shouldn't lose our jobs because the union wants our territory," he said.
