Statement on Library Construction

The Township has worked out an agreement with the Laborers’ Union, resulting in the cessation of their protest at the library site as of February 10, 2023.

The Eastern Region of the Laborers’ International Union of North America is conducting an informational campaign, including the use of an inflatable rat, in front of the Maplewood Library construction site. The union is in negotiations with a sub-contractor at the job, IBN Construction. The union also has expressed concerns about the practices of the general contractor, Pal-Pro Builders, LLC. Work on the new library will continue and the union is not seeking to shut down the job.

The awarding of the contract for the library construction was done in accordance with state laws and regulations. Workers at the site are paid the New Jersey Prevailing Wage, which is established by the NJ Department of Labor and is the same hourly amount as the union rate. We are monitoring the filing of all required labor reports by the contractor and sub-contractors.

We are in conversation with the union about future public construction projects in Maplewood. We are using this as an opportunity to listen and learn with the goal of improving our efforts going forward.

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Posted 02/13/2023