Somerville Union Members and Community Activists Rally for Jobs at MaxPac Housing Site

As construction begins on the first phase of the 199 unit MaxPac housing development in Somerville, about 80 union members and community organizers rallied on Dec. 2 to win union jobs and a commitment to hire local residents.

The group came together about a month ago at a small meeting of Somerville union members and community organizers. Everyone signed a letter to Mayor Joe Curtatone requesting his support. Then the group reached out to the project owners, KSS Realty Partners and GFC Development about hiring Somerville residents and using union workers on the project. Despite numerous requests, KSS Realty and GFC were not receptive to negotiating a Project Labor Agreement or discussing a Community Workforce Agreement to ensure that local residents are hired.

"With unemployment in Somerville at record highs, we are determined to make sure that when economic development of this scale occurs, it fully benefits our community," said Matt McLaughlin, a leader of the Save Our Somerville community group and one of the rally organizers.

Alderman at Large Bruce Desmond has been one of the champions for local jobs. "When the project went through the city's approval process, a special covenant was reached between the KSS Realty Partners and the City of Somerville," he said. "In part, it states: 'The city encourages the Developer to use union labor for the project and to enter into a project labor agreement.' It's a slap in the face to hundreds of unemployed skilled Somerville tradesmen to see people from out of state taking these jobs."

"A Project Labor Agreement is the best way to ensure the developers use well-trained workers earning decent wages and benefits," said Tom McIntyre, an International Rep with the Bricklayers union and a building trades leader. "With an agreement in place, the developer, general contractor and subcontractors and the eventual homeowners can be assured they will receive quality work."

"In addition to assurances that local residents get construction jobs, we want an agreement that future buildings and grounds maintenance work will also be done by Somerville residents and union labor," said Mike Destefano of Jaques Street in Somerville who is a member of the Area Trades Council.

One time KSS Realty principal Stephen Kennedy Smith who acquired the site, got the permits and the city's commitment for infrastructure improvements – has now relinquished his interest in the deal. (Smith is the son of Jean Kennedy Smith and grandson of Joe, Sr.) His former partner, Ted Tobin (grandson of Governor Maurice Tobin) has formed a new development team with Gate Residential Properties.

A Planning Board meeting is set for December 16 at City Hall. Word has it that KSS is planning to bring some issues before the board for approval. Hopefully enough people will come to meeting to show KSS Realty that they can't succeed in Somerville unless they agree to the PLA!

Photos from the rally maybe viewed at:http://picasaweb.google.com/randwilson.aflcio/SomervilleUnionMembersComm...

Rand Wilson is a union organizer and Somerville resident. For more info,