Union members picket outside West Toledo mall

8/22/2013

Members of a local union picketed outside Westfield Franklin Park today to protest the mall's decision to hire an out-of-town company to do some repair work.

David Fleetwood, the business manager of Laborers Local 500, said a Detroit-area contractor was hired to repair sidewalks and handicap ramps. He said the contractor is paying substandard wages. He said he wasn't sure if the workers were union.

Erika Williams, the mall's general manager, read a brief statement: "Westfield has no comment on the union's dispute. They are welcome to air out their grievances on public property in accordance with the law."