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MARQUETTE -- More than 100 members of several local unions were along West Washington Street near the construction site of the new UP Health System-Marquette facility today to protest the use of non-local workers for various aspects of the project.
Mike Thibault, business representative for the building construction trades in the Upper Peninsula, and chair of the U.P. Labor Federation, said current glass installation and fireproofing installation are at issue along with painting the facility in the future.
"When we first started talking to Lifepoint about this project, one of their emphases was on hiring local contractors where possible, and putting local people to work. That's not happening right now," Thibault said. "There is a couple of portions of this hospital work that have been subcontracted to a contractor out of Florida that is importing all of his workforce. We haven't had an opportunity for any assistance in sitting down with that contractor to see if we could reach some compromise and put some local folks to work."
The new $300 million UP Health System-Marquette -- a subsidiary of Duke Lifepoint -- facility at 850 W. Baraga Ave. has been under construction since last May with completion targeted for fall 2018. Locally based Closner Construction was selected as the general contractor for the construction of the new hospital in 2015.
Members of the local painters, carpenters, iron workers, teachers unions all turned out for the protest with additional support from nurses and other professionals in the community.
Marquette City Commissioner Sara Cambensy said she supports the efforts of local workers to shine a light on an imported workforce.
"I think when you talk to our local trade unions, they had a verbal agreement, that they thought was pretty ironclad," Cambensy said. "Right now you are seeing Duke Lifepoint wanting trust -- that we trust them that they have the best medical care facility and I think is what I want to send back, what everyone hears is we want to trust you as well. But what that really comes down to is investing in people and everything our community has given then, we expect the same back."
Thibault said if the hospital would like people to use the UPHS facility in Marquette, investing in the community workforce to build it is the best first step.
"We feel our people have good health care coverage, we spend a lot of money for our health care coverage. If Lifepoint wants us to spend it at their facility. We think its hypocritical to ask us to do that."
Victor Harrington, Regional Director Marketing and Business Development for UPHS Marquette, was contacted, but could not provide comment before press time.
Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.