Union construction projects in security zone suspended during papal visit

The Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council on Thursday announced it is following the recommendation of the General Building Contractors Association Inc. and revising construction work schedules for the papal visit by suspending all union construction projects in the designated security zone.

Earlier this month the GBCA Co-Director Benjamin Connors called working conditions on the 25th and 28th "untenable," and said the organization reached an agreement with local unions.

Building trades construction workers will work four 10-hour shift days the week prior to and after the papal visit. All construction work will be suspended from the Friday before Pope Francis arrives in Philadelphia to the Monday after he departs.

Here's the schedule:

    Sept. 21-24 — Building trades construction workers will work four 10-hour shifts

    Sept. 25-28 — All union construction work will be suspended

    Sept. 29-Oct. 2 — Workers will return to work sites in the impacted zone in four 10-hour shifts

    Oct. 5 — Building trades workers will resume their regular five-day work weeks

Members of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council and its contractor partners unanimously agreed to the temporary change to relieve some security concerns and to avoid impeding restricted travel in the security zone, Building Trades business manager Pat Gillespie said in a release.

“I want to thank our contractors for their cooperation," said Gillespie, who also acknowledged John Dougherty, IBEW Local 98 business manager, who presented the idea.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal