Worker’s Protest against Wage Practices & Labor Violations at Hilltopper Fieldhouse

Initially, a vocal protest was carried out by the union workers outside the Hilltopper Fieldhouse Construction site which targeted the subcontractor WASCO Inc. This demonstration took place along the University Drive in Bowling Green, Kentucky led by the Bricklayers and Allied craftworkers. The protest further attracted the attention through a 15 foot tall inflatable fat cat holding a construction worker, which metaphorically symbolised the exploitation of workers by the company. 

Further the Union representatives had claimed that the WASCO neither reached out to local labor organizations nor responded to attempts to discuss fair wage agreements. 

“When you come to Local 4 Indiana/Kentucky, you’re supposed to first call the union and say, we have a job coming up there pretty soon, and we’re going to need some workers to help build our stuff and we also need to know what your wage and benefit packages are so that we’re in compliance with the agreement” Dustin Reinstedlar, President, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. 

Their allegations argue that the inappropriate appointment of subcontractor through a bid process has sidelined the importance of skilled workers and weakened community labor standards. They also pointed a cautionary reminder to the authorities regarding the risks of outsourcing labor without proper accountability. 

Demands of Union Leaders

• Prioritize Local Labor for future projects
• Fair Compensation
• Strong Safety Standards
• Unbiased Quality