Early on Thursday, July 17, some 30 union protesters from the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Local # 290 stood outside of 1900 Northern Blvd. in Manhasset. Chanting “Same Work, Same Pay!” the men paraded back and forth on the side walk by the construction area around the Apple Store and near the entrance to The Gate.
The union protester were picketing against the company Krill Construction which has been hired by retailer Anthropologie, a clothing retailer who is planning to move into the space formerly occupied by the now defunct retailer, Daffy’s.
According to Paul Leo, Council representative of the NE Regional Council of Carpenters, the union members were protesting because “the contractor (Krill) was not paying area wages.” The workers chanting “Who is the Rat? Krill is the rat!” are protesting the non-area standards that are being paid by the contractor are below area standards and making workers unable to live on Long Island.
According to the Town of North Hempstead building department, permits issued by the Town of North Hempstead do not require workers to be union labor.
