By Anthony King | SDUN Assistant Editor

A group of approximately 60 people representing the Carpenters Local Union #1506 gathered in protest at the Inn at the Park, 525 Spruce St. in Bankers Hill. The group was picketing Cutting Edge Drywall of San Diego, which has been sub-contracted to do construction on the building.

Tracy Wert, a representative from the Union, said Cutting Edge Drywall does not pay fair wages and does not offer health insurance to its workers. However, Cutting Edge Drywall owner Ernie Pearn said his company pays “fair market wages.” Additionally, Pearn said his company offers health and retirement benefits.

“That’s an unfair statement,” Pearn said, adding that Wert has never spoken to him about what his company offers its employees. “I have to pay a fair wage to keep our people,” Pearn said and added they try to provide competitive wages.

Cutting Edge Drywall has been in business for close to 20 years and bid on the Inn at the Park construction project along with other companies, some associated with a union and some not.

The general contractor for the project is JP Weiman Construction, Inc. of Ramona, Calif. Jim Weiman, CEO and president, said Wert and the Union were picketing Cutting Edge Drywall because it was a “non-union drywall contractor that was awarded the job.” Weiman said his company sub-contracts with union and non-union companies, depending on the project and subsequent bids.

With chants of “same work, same pay,” the picketers marched in a circle at a side entrance to the property on Fifth Avenue after being legally prohibited from picketing the main entrance on Spruce Street. Wert said the Union had been picketing for several days but did not disclose how long the group would remain.

The construction is a part of a nine-month renovation for the hotel and restaurant, which was acquired last year by Shell Vacations Hospitality of Illinois.
Pearn said the property owners were aware of the picket, but needed to weigh their options on what was best for their company. Those options, Pearn said, included cost of the overall project.

“Obviously they’re unhappy about it, because their first concern is for the people are staying at the hotel,” Pearn said.

Shell Vacations Hospitality representative Shallana Edwards was notified of the picketers and said guest comfort was a priority. “We don’t expect this activity to have an impact on our day-to-day operations and are doing everything in our power to ensure our guests are not impacted in any way,” Edwards said.

Weiman said onsite managers are “extremely sensitive” to the workers contracted to do the construction and how the pickets affected them, a sentiment Pearn agreed with. “They’re all aware of it. They all know that it’s there,” Pearn said, adding, “Most of our guys are very loyal.”

Carpenter Local Union #1506 is a Southern California union under the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC), based in Los Angeles, Calif.