The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Complaints aired about contractor
Parents, union reps insist that local workers be employed
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: March 6, 2008
Several local trades workers, representing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 252 and the Washtenaw County Building Trades Council, last week protested the Ypsilanti Public School District's hiring of Wolgast Corporation as the 2007 general contractor.
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The workers' concerns were that Wolgast is a known anti-union company, dedicated to hiring nonunion people.
"They have said they will pay the prevailing wage," said Greg Stephens of the Trades Council, "but there are no guarantees."
Fred Veigel, president of Huron Valley Central Labor Council agreed, saying, "There's a lot of cheating on prevailing wage laws."
Veigel also said the union would insist on an audit, which it would pay for, to ensure the workers were paid properly and legally. He said the union would demand documentation under the Freedom of Information Act, if necessary.
Ted Haeva said he had worked for Wolgast in the past and described how workers were forced to sign their official paychecks back to the company, getting in return an envelope of cash in a lesser amount than the check had been written for.
Others described their long affiliations with the district and pleaded with the district to ensure local workers were hired and paid the prevailing wage rate, especially in the area's current economic downturn.
Several of the board trustees assured the workers of their support and that it was their intention to use local, union workers.
It was noted the district is under legal obligation to pay the prevailing wage rate, but it must be done in a competitive environment. The workers were assured that, all things being equal, the board would prefer to hire local, union workers, but nonunion workers must be allowed to bid.
President David Bates suggested the board OK the hiring of an attorney to draw up a resolution delineating the board's expectations of Wolgast, so everything would be clear.
Trustee Andrew Fanta said no attorney was necessary, except when it came to the issue of the audit by the union.
Trustee Floyd Brumfield insisted an attorney's input would be preferable. He was backed by Bates and Vice President Linda Horne.
It was finally agreed that Fanta would draft a resolution, which would then be reviewed by one of the district's attorneys before board approval.
In other business, the board approved the hiring of Convergent Technology Partners for the technology design portion of the bond issue. It also approved the process and format of the upcoming superintendent's evaluation.
The board approved the reclassification of the position of executive director of educational services, held by Richard Weigel, to the newly created position of Assistant Superintendent for Educational Quality. Several of the board members took the opportunity to laud Weigel's extraordinary efforts to improve curriculum and teaching quality in the schools.
Bates said he was "thrilled with what we've seen in progress since Mr. Weigel has come to this district. We have a ways to go, but the progress is noticeable."
Board members approved the hiring of James Tuttle to teach math at Ypsilanti High School.
A donation to Perry Child Development Center from the Employee Club of the Women's Huron Valley Complex of mittens, gloves and hats was acknowledged.
West Middle School received a donation of $500 to be used towards its substance abuse prevention program from the Reality Check Project of the Washtenaw County Public Health Department. In addition, an anonymous donor gave West Middle School $500 to help a student attend the eighth grade trip to Washington, DC.
The Regional Career Technical Center announced three donations: from Scott T. Gardner, computer parts; from Marie Williams, a computer and two monitors; and from the Ann Arbor Litho Club, $1,000.
Kathleen Conat is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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