Construction trade workers protest at Virginia Power
MICHAEL MARTZ/RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
Bob Corby, a carpenter from Goochland County, hands out fliers at Dominion Virginia Power headquarters calling on the utility to hire more Virginia workers for its construction projects.
The people who build and repair Dominion Virginia Power plants today challenged the people who own them to hire more state workers for the jobs.
A group of union workers handed out fliers as Dominion employees arrived for work this morning at the electric utility's headquarters at One James River Plaza on East Cary Street in downtown Richmond . More than 50 workers participated, also handing out fliers in front of the Virginia Employment Commission's headquarters, Dominion's corporate offices on Tredegar Street and other downtown intersections.
"We just want our fair share of the work," said James E. "Toney" Rigali, president of the Virginia State Building & Construction Trades Council.
Rigali, who estimates the council represents about 35,000 union-represented workers in a wide variety of crafts across the state, said the message is about Virginia workers, regardless of whether they belong to a union.
"Whether it's union or non-union, we just want Virginians to be first and get in these jobs," said Rigali, who is a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 10, based in South Richmond.
The members of the trades council also include elevator and sheet metal workers, carpenters, electricians, boilermakers, bricklayers, plasterers and cement masons, millwrights, asbestos workers, operating engineers and laborers with Virginia licenses and in many cases state-certified training. They say too much work is going to out-of-state contractors at Dominion projects, including a new combined-cycle gas-fired power plant in Buckingham County and a coal-fired plant in Wise County.
However, the protesters offered no documentation of the practice, other than anecdotal evidence that many contract workers live in other states.
Dominion spokesman Karl R. Neddenien said today that the utility has hired more than 200 local residents for its Wise County power plant, or abour 40 percent of the project work force.
"Dominion Virginia Power actively works with our construction contractors to promote hiring local residents and make employment opportunities available to union craft workers," Neddenien said.
"We also need to ensure that projects are completed on time and on budget to the benefit of our customers," he added.
The organizers of today's protest acknowledged the use of out-of-state contractors for Dominion construction projects isn't new, but they said times have changed because of the recession and the utility's request for a 6.9-percent increase in base utility rates.
"How are people going to pay their electric bill when they don't have a job?" Rigali asked.
-- Michael Martz
Reader Reactions
Jim & Willy,
Take a few moments and consider this… Figure the total amount of Union dues you paid over the life of your careers, then put that amount into a 401K calculator (found on the net)and compare that to your pension, if that does not upset you enough add the total of monies match by your employers over the years and add that amount to the calculator as well (still a big Union fan?) the facts are clear that the Unions had a time and a place, but what they are now is exactly what they brainwash members to think non union companies are… “Designed for the best interest of a select few”, It’s nothing against you personal, after all do the math yourself, you are the victims here.
Hay Jay, Let’s go play a round over in Chesapeake. I hear there is a course over there that glows in the dark. The FLYWAYS are supposed to be beautifull, but it’s not a happy neighborhood to drive your Dominion Limmo.
SEARAY, I’m doing fine. Actually I live in Chesterfield County. I worked for the same company for 27yrs. I took a volentary layoff. In 9 months I will turn 62 and start drawing Social Security. I have made good money and told myself years ago that when I get to the point that I can make more money staying home playing with my grand children, just on my UNION PENSION, IT’S TIME TO RETIRE. I was going to take this 9 months of unemployment and build a house on some land I have in the country, but there is not city water available.I don’t want FLY ASH water. This Dutch Gap FLY ASH is probably being dumped on Legal American citizens somewhere.
jim how is the umployement in cheasapeake
Ha! Sorry Jim, you make an excellent point! The good news is that I am rich and can afford the taxes.
I really don’t care if a union gets the work. The only dog I have in this fight is that you think you have a right to dictate how a private company operates. But fortunately you don’t. You are a pawn.
I am glad you chose to visit a library on a beautiful day like this. My only regret is that you didn’t apply your brain earlier in life. An intelligent gentleman like yourself had so much potential, but your lack of confidence led you to believe you needed the union to make a living.
By the way, Huffie doesn’t tell me when to work. I am an owner of my company. I tell myself when to work. I pity those that answer to “the boss man” their entire life. They will never know what it is like to really feel like a man. Always answering to someone. Always asking permission to take a break, to take vacation, when it’s time to eat, when you can clock out, when you can skip out to enjoy your kids baseball game, etc, etc, etc. It’s kind of like being a child again, working for someone else and throwing tantrums when you don’t get what you don’t deserve.
What a shame. Well, I am off to play golf!
This is probably too personal a question but what is the average pension worth when you retire?
Also, unions have played a huge role in shipping jobs overseas. Jobs that our children and grandchildren could have had. Taking all we can get now and sticking our children and grandchildren with the bill is probably as selfish as it gets.
So…who is looking after them? When we run up enormous debt to cover the UAW and the dollar value drops to zero, what happens then?
Well, to put everyone’s mind at rest, I assure you that I DO NOT work for a union. But, I did work for a corporation that had a union, and that—- and that only—is why I enjoy the retirement check I receive every month, plus the many other benefits. I worked for 30+ years and helped contribute to that company’s success. But is the UNION that ensured I would receive a pension and other benefits! So, one does not have to be Union to support the hard work they do to help workers! Thank goodness, someone is looking out for WORKERS!
Jay, actually I’m at the library using YOUR TAX DOLLAR.The more money you make by me using KW hrs, THE MORE TAXES YOU PAY. This library needs a face lift and THAT’S UNION WORK. Thanks for supporting OUR UNION AND THE MIDDLE CLASS OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY.
searay; With all the LOVE thats in the DOMINION 3’s hearts, they would like to fill it up with FLY ASH.
Truth be told, I am a stockholder for Dominion. I am really just arguing with you so that you will keep buying kW-hr’s from Dominion to help pay for my retirement. Thanks for your contribution!
Just curious, and a sincere question, how much are union dues anyways? Do you pay by the year, the month, what’s the story?
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