Members of the Laborers’ International Union were on campus yesterday to observe Workers Memorial Day and to protest what some called unsafe conditions at the Tiger Stadium construction site.
Organizers began planning the rally several weeks ago to recognize Workers Memorial Day, a day that remembers labor workers who have died on job sites.
While publicizing the rally, students voiced concerns to organizers about the safety conditions at the stadium construction site. After researching concerns, organizers decided to change the focus of the rally to highlight safety issues with the stadium renovations.
Protesters gathered on Nicholson Drive with a large inflatable rat and signs that said “honk for safety” and “Yates unsafe contractor.”
Roman Feher, the protest organizer, said that while the group was handing out flyers on campus to let students know about the rally a week ago, students in the Union told him about Yates.
Feher said he researched Yates and found the construction company had some safety infractions at another project in Georgia, including an incident where four workers died.
Feher said he found documentation of only one injury from the Tiger Stadium construction, when a worker fell 4 feet after hurting his leg. He said that safety issues from other projects, including the deaths in Georgia, raised the group’s concerns.
Feher said that after learning about what he called Yates’ unsafe practices, the group decided not only to hold the rally for Workers Memorial Day, but to also protest unsafe conditions Yates construction workers face.
Rob Trenkle, an international representative for Laborers’ International Union of North America, said there are both union and non-union workers working on the stadium. A union worker receives certain protections from employee abuse and works with the group to ensure safe working conditions and fair pay.
“We’re out here to show them we care about safety,” Trenkle said.
Trenkle said he wonders why the University hired Yates, citing safety issues and emphasizing that Yates hired many out-of-state workers for the project.
Trenkle said that if Yates had hired more local employees, it would have helped the local economy.
Jackie Wright, a Baton Rouge resident who joined the protest, said that while she is no longer a part of any union, she came with friends to help hold signs and wave at cars.
“When they said they were ready to protest about unions, I was ready to go,” Wright said. “Most of the time, unions don’t get the business they deserve.”
Luis Font, a union member from Miami who came to Baton Rouge for the protest, said rallies for Workers Memorial Day were being held all over the country Thursday.
“It’s unfortunate that so many people sustain so many life-threatening injuries on the job,” Font said.
Kenny Bush, a spokesperson for Yates construction, said that Yates does not have unsafe work practices.
“We take great pride in safety and protecting our workers,” Bush said. “We have been recognized nationally twice in the past year for our safety.”
Bush said there have been no serious injuries at the stadium construction site.
“We have always had strict tie-off procedures for people working above 6 feet,” Bush said. “We haven’t had any real serious injuries since we’ve been there.”