Springfield unions demand labor contracts for housing development project

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Springfield unions delivered a strong message during Tuesday night's Springfield City Council meeting. They are demanding that an upcoming city project utilize union labor to construct 50 new homes.

The city council has voted to move forward with a plan to allocate $500,000 in TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds and $1 million in home investment funds for the Nehemiah Homes Redevelopment Project.

Project labor agreements are usually required for a project of this size. However, labor leaders say Nehemiah has not been using union labor.

Local 477 Business Manager, Brad Schaive said, "Why do we do it to protect them? Because we do have something in common- we're both human beings. We deserve respect, we deserve the right to the fair pay and we deserve a city council and a city that recognizing that a pla guarantees local, guarantees minority participation and guarantees that we will make sure people are provided for."

Leaders from Nehemiah Expansion Inc. state that few unions have bid on their past projects, but they are open to collaborating with union leaders in the future.