A media advisory went out yesterday afternoon from the building trades inviting the press to a news conference to view a video called “Deconstructing Post Brothers: Exposing the Truth Behind the Cheap Facade.” According to the advisory, a video has been made that will expose “health-and-safety violations at Post Brothers’ Goldtex Apartments construction site, as well as the economic abuse of its workers.” After the viewing of the video, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. at IBEW Local 98 Union Hall, a panel of elected officials and labor leaders will answer questions. The media will receive a DVD of what the building trades are calling a “documentary.”
Mike and Matt Pestronk, who run Post Brothers, issued a statement calling the video a “Johnny Doc-umentary” after John Dougherty, who is the business manager of Local 98, and said it should have been called Labor Gone Wild. "It’s nothing more than a video Hail Mary from a desperate group whose fear-mongering is standing in the way of Philadelphia’s real growth.”
The Pestronks, who converted the former Gold-Tex building into apartments, have experienced big problems with organized labor for not using union-only labor for its project.
For their part, the Post Brothers call the allegations in the video “false and reckless.” The company has set up a website called PhillyBully.com where it has detailed the battle it has waged with Philadelphia unions on the apartment project.
There is expected to be more on this from both sides in the coming days and weeks. Already the Post Brothers have lobbed: “We call upon the unions and political cronies they support, to also release their political contribution information. Based on what we’ve seen in this town, we don’t expect they’ll be that honest with the public. But when you don’t have the truth on your side you have to resort to bribes, lies, and videotapes.”
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal
See the Deconstructing Post Brother's Web Site here...
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