Unions concerned about MGM apartments

May 25, 2017 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com



SPRINGFIELD – Local labor leaders have expressed concern about whether or not the 54 apartments that are to be constructed by MGM as part of the company’s agreement with the city will be a union project.

The casino itself is a union project both Michael Langone, president of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council and Daniel D’Alma, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 7 of Western Massachusetts explained to Reminder Publications.

Despite the inquires made by both men no one in the Sarno administration has yet said whether or not the apartments will be part of the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) that covers the nearly $1 billion casino project. The questions comes from the issue whether or not the apartments, since they are no longer located as part of the casino campus, are now covered by the PLA.

The issue came about with the revelation by MGM officials the apartments might include affordable housing, although Mayor Domenic Sarno has described the project as “market rate.”

Langone said, “The housing component was always part of the agreement.”

Negotiations between the city, the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, Opal Development, the preferred developer for 31 Elm St. and MGM have not yet been concluded for the historic Court Square building to be the location for the apartments.

Reminder Publications posed the questions about the status of the PLA for the apartments to the mayor. His response was: “I am proud of my record and relationship with organized labor. They’ve played and will continue to play an important part in the $3.3 billion of economic development projects my administration has created both with and without PLAs. I look forward to continuing to partner together and keep them all working on more quality projects ahead.”

D’Alma explained that his and other unions have taken on additional apprentices in anticipation of the increase in union employment represented by the casino project. He is concerned about their future employment.

At a recent Massachusetts Gaming Commission meeting, MGM presented a report on how the effort to fill construction jobs at the casino site for women, minorities and veterans has been accomplished. The commissioners praised MGM for fulfilling and sometimes exceeding these employment goals.

“We’re holding up our end of the bargain,” D’Alma said.

D’Alma noted the CRRC facility on Page Boulevard was not only built with union labor, but the workforce will be union. D’Alma explained the union involvement was part of the deal arranged by former Gov. Deval Patrick.

The Union Station renovations were accomplished with only about 50 percent union labor, both men explained.

Langone would like the mayor to “sit down with the Building Trades as soon as possible to discuss the PLA.”

Share this: