NevadaLabor.com: Workers picket Hyatt Reno construction site

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY DEPT.

KRNV TV-4's Joe Hart reported in August, 2009, that because of the Hyatt's location, it will pay no property tax due to a law passed by the Nevada Legislature designed to encourage construction near airports. Corporate welfare screws schools, parks, roads, police and fire protection one more time!

RENO, Nev. (Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008) – Local construction workers will conduct an informational picket at the Hyatt Hospitality Suites site in front of the Reno airport beginning at 10:00 a.m. today.

The project is located on the southwest corner of Plumb Lane and Terminal Way, just east of U.S. 395.

"The Louisiana-based developer, Intercoastal Hospitality, Inc., hired an Arkansas-based general contractor who is paying below area-standard wages and benefits," stated Paul McKenzie, executive secretary-treasurer of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada.

"Two of the project's subcontractors were not licensed in Nevada when the job was bid," he added. State law requires that bidders be licensed in order to submit or accept a bid. (Nevada Revised Statutes 624.700)

SAFETY CONCERNS

"These out-of-staters not only underpay itinerant workers, but also put nothing into health and retirement benefits or proper training.

"We have observed serious safety problems at the site," McKenzie said.

"Because of state budget cuts, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) inspection has been lax," McKenzie added.

"Hyatt Corp. makes the claim that they have no input as to how their hotels are constructed. That's like saying Anheuser-Busch would allow any brewer to put a Budweiser label on their product," McKenzie said.

CONSTRUCTION WAGES AFFECT ENTIRE REGION

"Longstanding, credible economic research proves that the pay rates of the skilled trades act as a benchmark for all salaries and wages in a region. That's why President-elect Barack Obama wants to kick-start the economy with infrastructure construction projects," McKenzie said.*

"About one in three construction workers in this area is unemployed. It's an insult to Nevada workers to have this deep-south company coming in and watering down wages for work that's available," McKenzie said.

The Sparks-based Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada is comprised of 19 unions.

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* Richard B. Freeman and James L. Medoff, What Do Unions Do?, Basic Books, 1984; Harvard University Press, 1987

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Hyatt contacts

Chris Dobbins, Regional VP of Development
7272 E. Indian School Rd., Suite 101
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 308-2915
e-mail christopher.dobbins@hyattselect.com

Mr. Chris Ivy, Senior VP-Development
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 750-1234
e-mail global.development@corphq.hyatt.com

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