What's Going On at Gorno Ford?

Those driving past Gorno Ford over the past week might have noticed people holding signs that read, "SHAME ON GORNO FORD."

The men and women holding the signs are union workers informing the public that Gorno Ford officials allowed union and non-union workers to work on a project that began about five weeks ago, according to Paul VanOss, business representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58 in Detroit.

The 28-year union tradesman and Southgate resident said he and his fellow union workers were not picketing in front of Gorno Ford.

"We just want to get the word out," VanOss said. "We want to support our local people."

Gorno Ford President Edwin Jolliffe, of Grosse Ile, said he sought bids for a complete, interior and exterior, remodel on the dealership's largest building. Three bids were submitted from local and non-local businesses.

J.S. Vig submitted the lowest bid and Gorno officials awarded the Taylor-based company the project. Jolliffe said J.S. Vig's bid was more than $272,000 lower than the highest bid submitted.

J.S. Vig’s vice president, Dennis Levko, told The News-Herald Thursday his company’s obligation was to hire sub-contractors for the trade work for the project. Some were union and some were nonunion, he said, according to The News-Herald.

Workers hired by J.S. Vig to work on the project are mostly non-union workers. Jolliffe said about 30-35 percent of the workers handeling the project are union workers.

"They (J.S. Vig) got the lowest bid and they got the job, so the people that they hired are the ones doing this job," Jolliffe said. "Gorno Ford had nothing to do with hiring the people on the job."

VanOss said tradesmen used by J.S. Vig are not paid to area standards for wages and benefits.

"It's not a union/non-union thing," VanOss said. "We want them to pay a prevailing wage for our area, so their construction workers can afford to buy Ford cars."

Jolliffe said the people standing on the sidewalk outside his business have modestly affected his business. About 70-80 percent of Gorno Ford employees rely on sales and service for compensation, according to Jolliffe.

"To say we don't care about unions just burns us right to the core," Jolliffe said.