Quincy Mayor Koch brings in non-union workers?

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– News about Quincy MA from Quincy Quarry News
Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch appears to have at least looked the other way to allow purportedly non-union workers to come in from out of state to help clear out the snow-clogged streets of Quincy at local taxpayers’ expense.
So much, apparently, for the mayor’s past claims of support for union labor undertaken at local taxpayers’ expense.
Ward 4 City Councillor Brian Palmucci has reported in a recent constituent newsletter that the City of Quincy is spending roughly $250,000.00 a day to clear the streets of Quincy of snow.
Where such expensive efforts are providing commensurate levels of clearing, however, was not noted by Councillor Palmucci nor has such been seen anywhere around town by the Quarry’s now sled dog team equipped news teams.

Regardless, Quincy Quarry’s finance department has estimated the cost of bringing in purportedly non-union workers and equipment from out of state at roughly a third of the $250,000.00 daily burn rate figure cited by Councillor Palmucci.
After all, hotel accommodations and generous per diems add up quickly.
Even more troubling, however, the $250,000.00 a day spending figure could be less than the actual rate of spending.
For example, the Quarry has received of reports of substantial overtime accrued by DPW employees in recent days, including substantial overtime hours awarded to non-field working staff in recent days.
While the purported straight time and overtime weekly totals do not (yet, ed.) appear to total more than the 168 hours in a week, the numbers defy credulity both in terms of human endurance as well as given any reasonable review of the condition of the dog sleds tracks that pass for streets in many residential neighborhoods in Quincy.

Further, one can only wonder if the use of non-union labor poses any local municipal labor agreements or if it is just a further example of suspect labor practices involving Koch Maladministration projects.
Quincy Quarry did not bother reaching out to City Hall for comment as it expected that either one would not be provided or the mayor would announce a retroactive emergency royal decree allowing the use of non-union labor.
Whether – or not – senior labor officials or the National Labor Relations Board might opt to do otherwise remains to be seen.
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