Labor to Mayor: ‘Contractor Community Has Lost Confidence’ in Jefferson Arms Developer
Date Posted: February 28, 2019
Posted In: Projects, Workforce,
From St. Louis Business Journal: An organization representing construction unions alleges the developer behind the $104 million Jefferson Arms project will not use local workers and has refused to meet with union leadership.
In a letter to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson obtained by the Business Journal, John Stiffler, executive secretary-treasurer of the St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council, alleges the developer, Alterra Worldwide, does not intend to hire local workers, pay standard wages, nor comply with minority and inclusion workforce standards.
“We have attempted to meet with the principal and help rectify his shortcomings in the diversity, training, safety and financing. We were rebuffed throughout. We are tired of bargaining with ourselves,” Stiffler said in the letter. “Instead of honest conversation and sincere discussions in using this project’s potential to help the city as a whole, the principal insists on obfuscation and misrepresentation to our organizations, the contractor community and the public.
“The contractor community has lost confidence in this project and this principal and the principal has shown no faith or good will in either the project or the city and its residents.”
Stiffler, in the letter dated Jan. 8, asks for Krewson to arrange a meeting with Alterra, the unions and the city about the project. A spokesman for Krewson said the city has not yet responded to the letter. The Labor Tribune, a weekly union newspaper, first reported the letter this week.