Picketers on Parker Junior High worksite

Work at Parker Junior High in Flossmoor is continuing despite picketers from Roofers & Waterproofers Local 11 arguing the district and the contractors are not following prevailing wage rules. But the district says paperwork shows the work is being done at a prevailing wage scale.
 

District 161 awarded a contract to Kee Construction for $3.3 million for work at both Parker and Heather Hill School. Kee has subcontracted with Advanced Roofing and Woodworking for the roofing job. 
 

Chris Salomon, senior project manager at Kee, believes the union’s protest should have been made before the job was bid. That paperwork would have stipulated union work on the job, he said, noting of the six or seven subcontractors, all but the roofers on the Parker job are union members.
 

Gary Menzel, president and business manager for Local 11, accuses Advanced Roofing of failing to pay the prevailing wage of $66.77 per hour, that includes pension and benefits. He claims the company has been cited on a job in South Holland for Occupational Safety & Health Administration violations.
 

Salomon said Advanced Roofing “is a good firm. They choose not to be in the union.”
Kee subcontractors continue working, he said, because they know school districts have a limited schedule to complete the work before school starts in August. 
 

Charles Hankins, owner of Advanced Roofing, said he has given a certified payroll list to the district to show the wages he pays his roofers. District 161 Associate Superintendent Frances LaBella said the district does require prevailing wages on its jobs, and said Advanced Roofing has provided the district with documentation showing that the roofers are being paid a prevailing wage scale. 

Salomon said the payroll information was presented to the union.