Union Protests outside of Hoboken YMCA; Hired Contractor Debarred By State

Union workers involved in the on uptown Washington Street have placed a big inflatable rat as well as a coffin in front of the building with the goal to inform the public of potential dangers the workers are facing. 

The contractor that was hired for the project, the East Rutherford-based Faith Environmental, has been debarred by the state from doing any work, according to records from the state's Labor Department. Boro Atanasoski, who is in charge of the company, is debarred until May 7, 2013.

"It's just unbelievable," said Paul Roldan, the labor union representative on site, about the multi million dollar project. Once a firm is debarred, "no public works contract may be awarded" according to the Labor Department website. 

The project is in hands of the YMCA, said Chief of Staff Daniel Bryan on Wednesday afternoon. The city—because the project includes affordable housing—supports the project, Bryan said, but is not funding it. The city also grants the permits for construction, through its construction office, Bryan said. 

Community Development Director Brandy Forbes wasn't immediately reached on Wednesday morning.

Roughly five workers are outside of the building protesting and handing out flyers to "inform the public what's transpiring," Roldan said. He added that the work inside the building continues, with about ten workers inside.

Abraham Hernandez, the organizer of the workers at the YMCA, said that he is worried about the conditions for the workers inside the building.

"We strongly believe there’s more asbesthos there," Hernandez said. Hernandez said also that a state survey about the amout of asbestos in the building indicates there was more than the workers have removed.

Hernandez said he is not sure how long the rat and the coffin—to indicate the dangers asbestos workers face every day—will be in front of 1300 Washington St. But, he said, however long it takes to inform the public of the potential dangers for both the workers and the future occupiers of the building.