Local Laborers Picket Casino Development Contract

Laborers from all over Maryland demonstrated against Reliable Contracting Company Monday to protest its recently signed agreement to work on the new gaming center near Arundel Mills mall.

The protesters, located on the medians of Arundel Mills Boulevard, said the company pays wages below the standard for the area and instead gives jobs to out of town workers.

According to a George Eisner, a carpenter and labor representative for the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 37 AFL-CIO, the contract between The Cordish Companies, which is developing the casino, and Reliable Contracting means fewer jobs for local workers who expect the area-standard compensation for Anne Arundel County.

More than two dozen carpenters, ironworkers, cement masons and other tradesmen quietly held body-sized signs that read, “Reliable Contracting pays sub-standard wages and benefits for this area.”

Phone calls to the Reliable Construction Company and The Cordish Companies were not immediately returned.

The workers initially set up their demonstration across from the construction site, but were forced to move to the median on Arundel Mills Boulevard by police because they were on private property, said one picketer. 

Currently working on a "utility package,” a term used when discussing a project related to water and sewage systems, Reliable Contracting hired laborers who work for less, ultimately ostracizing locals who expect standards set up by Anne Arundel County, said Eisner.

“There’s no reason they should pay below the area-standard. There’s money here and there’s enough for everybody,” said Bob Holsey, an operating engineer. “We’re not asking for more, just the standard.”

The main concern is giving jobs to local laborers, said Holsey.

Currently, about 17 equipment operators are working on the official construction site, but hundreds of trade jobs will emerge as the $300 million project develops. Jobs that the picketers are desperate to get.

“We’ve got a couple hundred on the out-of-work list,” Holsey said.

Eisner said he and others plan to meet with Reliable on Tuesday in a continued effort to find area-standard payment for local laborers. 

This story is still developing. Look for more updates throughout the days and week to come.