KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) — Since February, Union workers have continued to pressure Port KC to adopt a prevailing wage policy for taxpayer-funded construction projects. This Monday, they are confident the change will finally come to fruition.
How we got here
“This isn’t a union versus a non-union effort; this is a local workforce effort, this is how we protect our workers,” said Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council Business Manager, Ralph Oropeza.
Back in August, Oropeza said they got a tip about some possible violations.
“We were presented with some evidence through a third-party compliance company of people getting paid under the table. Being given cash money for their payment, which right there is a tax violation, right there is below our area standards. So we went to the developer because we were going to put on a very big demonstration at the last women’s soccer game. We were going to be out there in full force, the developer and the contractor, they are still there, promised us that this was going to stop, and the port said, “Hey, what can we do? We will get this fixed,” said Oropez…