Carpenters Union Blasts Binghamton Mayor on PLA

Members of a union that represents carpenters demonstrated in downtown Binghamton to express their displeasure with the mayor's veto of a measure affecting a major sewage treatment plant project.

The Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters organized the protest Tuesday (March 8) evening which featured a sign that read: "Shame on Mayor David for vetoing local labor."

The mayor rejected a project labor agreement for the Binghamton-Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment plant. City council failed to override the veto.

Erin Joyce, communications director of the labor council, said the proposed agreement would have ensured the hiring of local labor for the project.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Joyce said the demonstration was timed to coincide with a fundraiser being held for David by the Associated Builders and Contractors. That organization had waged a campaign against the project labor agreement.

A spokesman for the mayor issued a statement indicating "not only did he not attend, but the nature of the event was in no way connected to his official capacity or campaign."

Brian Sampson, president of Associated Builders and Contractors Empire State Chapter, said the gathering was held at Terra Cotta on State Street.

Sampson said the event was not a fundraiser. He said the group had invited the mayor to attend the meeting to provide a "state of the city" update.

Sampson said David had confirmed he would be at the event. He said he was disappointed the mayor did not show up but he could "understand the discomfort that was probably there" because of the presence of protesters.

Bids for the major work planned for the sewage treatment plant are to be opened next week.

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