Picketers March on Safeway Construction Site

Laborers Union Local 389 began picketing the construction site Tuesday, Feb. 15 in response to the purported employment practices of a number of subcontractors.

After years of effort and drawing up plans, Safeway has begun the process of building a new store at 1450 Howard Ave. on the corner of El Camino Real.

However, the general building contractor for the project, W. L. Butler Construction Inc., has hired a number of subcontractors as part of the project that aren’t paying area standard wages, said Laborers Union Local 389 President Joseph J.C.Scott.

“They’re only paying their guys $15 to $20 an hour. No benefits, no nothing,” said union Secretary-Treasurer Ignacio “Nacho” Castillo.

W.L. Butler Senior Project Manager Charlie Kelly had no comment.

Safeway says that they put all remodel and new project work out for open bidding.

“We bid out to contractors what can do the work and do quality work,” said Safeway company spokesman Brian Dowling.

“We expect both our contractors and subcontractors to abide by all applicable wage and labor legal requirements,” he added.

Feb. 15 was the first day of picketing, but not the last. “We’re going to be here as long as it takes,” said Scott. “Unless they come to the table.”

“Subcontractors are hiring people from out of town. Low wages and no benefits,” added Castillo. “We’ve got a whole lot of people from the community that are out of work.”

“This is not anything dramatically different than what goes on in the industry,” said Dowling.