UPDATE: Thursday, April 30th: The Tacoma Weekly has an article today with a few more comments from the parties involved.
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UPDATE: Tuesday, April 28th: The Business Examiner has a response on their blog from the Carpenters Union on this lawsuit.
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UPDATE: Wednesday, April 22nd: The News Tribune has an article on this issue today...
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This letter arrived today via email.... Karen
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April 21, 2009
Dear Friends,
Today, Point Ruston LLC filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Pacific Northwest
Regional Council of Carpenters, Jobs With Justice Education Fund, and individual
representatives of both organizations. I wanted you to hear this news from me before you read
about it in the newspaper.
The lawsuit alleges that the Carpenters Union, and Jobs With Justice, have violated federal
labor laws prohibiting threatening activities, interfered with contractual relations and
prospective business expectancies, trespassed, engaged in property damage, and made false
and defamatory statements regarding on-site environmental issues and the health and safety of
working conditions.
The last thing that we wanted to do was to file a lawsuit against the Carpenters and Jobs With
Justice, but we had no choice. Their on-going and escalating activities have fostered
misinformation, damaged our company, and spread fear among the community about the
environmental effects of the site.
We are a labor-friendly company and we have been taken aback by the activities of the
Carpenters Union and Jobs With Justice. We take our commitment to organized labor seriously
and have very good relations with trade unions in Pierce County.
We are also concerned about the misinformation spread by the Carpenters and Jobs With
Justice about the environmental effects of the site on workers and neighbors. Numerous state
and federal agencies are involved in oversight of this project and we are in 100% compliance
with all EPA regulations related to this site.
The remediation and redevelopment of Superfund Sites is complex and costly. However, we are
committed to completing this project and creating an exceptional space for the community.
Once completed, for the first time in 100 years the public will be able to step onto this site to
walk, live, shop, recreate, and experience the breathtaking beauty of this waterfront property.
We appreciate your support and will keep you posted on further developments.
Sincerely,
Mike Cohen
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7 comments:
Good For You Mr. Cohen! I'm glad you have the fortitude to stand up to all of the illegal union antics.
I've always wondered why the people holding the sign saying "Mike Cohen is poisoning our neighborhood" aren't wearing respirators if they're so concerned.
I hate lawsuits and lawyers, but your name and reputations need to be defended in situations like this.
Mike, the only thing I can say is, it's about time. I hope you don't mess around with those guys, to include the Town of Ruston.
Unfortunately this is the only thing (lawsuit) that gets their attention.
They JFJ anc Carpenters make no sense at all.
Maybe we can find out who is behind all this and why.
Also they have a supporter on the Ruston town council you should look at.
Mr. Cohen much success on the jewel of the Pacific Northwest POINT RUSTON.
Good job! I have posted your letter at the Market for those not on your e-mail list. Beth
I'm a union carpenter and our leadership sickens me.
I can't continue paying dues to these morons. I'm planning on ending my affiliation after the job I'm working on winds down this fall. I've had enough.
A comment came in tonight that is posted on the Free Ruston site.
Good Job Mike. The carpenters mob tactics continue into the 20th century which no one can understand how they can get away with threatening and slandering company's that they no nothing about. All of the small buisnesses in our area are getting hurt by the carpenters union, who blackmail owners into using there workforce to build overpriced projects or they get threatend by the union with picketing or bannering if they use non union people to build there projects. I do not understand how they can get away with this in this day and age. Well I guess it's the politicians with there pockets linded that let this keep happening. We are all proud of you Mike for going to bat for all of us that can't afford to battle such a large entity. Thank you Mike, Jim
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