PORT HUENEME : Ironworkers Picket at Navy Center
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Several local members of an ironworkers’ union picketed the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme on Wednesday to protest the use of an out-of-state subcontractor to build a weapons systems laboratory.
The workers, representing Iron Workers Local 433 in Los Angeles, said they were protesting the Navy’s contracting with Scorpio Steel Inc. of Phoenix, Ariz., rather than a California firm.
“It would be nice if they could have gotten a local contractor and put some local people to work,” said John Walakavage, the union’s business agent. The union represents 4,800 people, 125 from Ventura County.
San Diego-based Robert McMullan & Son was chosen as the general contractor for the $6-million job.
McMullan project manager Diane Dion said Scorpio was the lowest bidder among the steel-worker firms.
Scorpio, which has a $764,500 contract with McMullan, has hired local workers, but they do not belong to the union.
Walakavage said he tried to negotiate a contract with McMullan and Scorpio, but “we haven’t gotten anywhere.”
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