Sales Pitch: Industrial Wind Energy Installations brings local jobs! – MISLEADING or FALSE

New York, RES – Promise of jobs falls short as RES decides not to contract for road work locally.

Oct. 2017
Copenhagen Wind Farm, New York

Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc., recently decided not to subcontract access road construction work to one of the union’s contractors.

Paul Judkins, a senior project manger with Renewable Energy Systems, said the decision was “strictly a monetary thing” and the contractor decided to perform most of the access road work itself with help from Wisconsin-based Rock Solid Stabilization and Reclamation Inc. for cement stabilization.
“It was our understanding that one of our contractors would be contracted to perform work, but that fell through,” Mr. Hilyard said.

“We are not hiring through unions. We are a non-union company,” Mr. Judkins said, “but if a local union worker wanted to work … they would be considered.”

Renewable Energy Systems would be willing to talk with the local chapter, but union leaders would have to converse with his supervisors. Mr. Hilyard, however, said he has not been able to reach Renewable Energy Systems’ administrative staff.

“We’re disappointed with the lack of communication on the corporate side,” said Harrison Watkins, a researcher with the New York State Laborers’ Organizing Fund, a subgroup of the international labor union. “We would welcome a phone call if he wants to utilize our labor force.”

Renewable Energy Systems Americas plans to build the access roads and have all trees removed before the end of the year and will continue construction next spring.
Construction is expected to be completed in late November 2018.
via Watertown Daily Times | Unions push to secure employment for Copenhagen wind farm construction By MARCUS WOLF