Union Protests Princeton University's Contractor

A giant inflatable rat and several union demonstrators were at the corner of Nassau and Washington Streets on Thursday to protest Princeton University's decision to use non-union workers to remove asbestos at the former Merwick Care and Rehabilitation Center property on Bayard Lane.  

Nearby, a coffin was on display to show the deadly effects of asbestos exposure.

"Shame on Princeton," read the flyer being handed out by representatives of the Laborers' International Union of North America known as the Laborers' Eastern Region Organizing Fund. "Exposure to Asbestos Causes Cancer: One Fiber is All It Takes."

LEROF representatives claim that Princeton University has hired NCM Demo & Remediation to remove asbestos from the Bayard Lane property. But unlike a union job, this one won't be supervised by a shop steward who can point out potential safety violations without fear of being fired, the union claims.

"Right next door to the project is the YMCA and YWCA and the children there could possibly be exposed if the substance is not removed in the proper manner," said Ed Pichardo, an union organizer. "We want Princeton University to do the right thing."

Princeton University Spokesman Martin A. Mbugua said the university has hired not only an asbestos remediation company but also a second company as on-site consultant to monitor and inspect the project's safety. 

"For people working on this site, anyone who exits the sealed and isolated work area goes through a three-stage decontamination shower before they leave for any reason and that's monitored by the second company," Mbugua said. "That ensures safe working practices and that's for maintaining the highest safety standards."

He said the university awards both union and non-union contracts for asbestos abatement and awards are made based on factors including prices, experience, bid and contractor skills.  

Seventy-five percent of Princeton University's asbestos abatement contracts awarded in the last two years and for next year were given to union contractors, he said. 

Merwick recently moved to the new Princeton University Medical Center campus in Plainsboro and the university, which owns the Princeton site, must remove the aesbestos from the buildings before demolition. 

Work has not yet begun, but is expected to start shortly, Mbugua said. 

LIUNA claims that NCM Demo & Remediation "cheats its workers by refusing to provide them with a decent wage or basic benefits such as health care."

Eric Willig, NCM's vice president of marketing, could not immediately find a record of the Merwick job, but said if his company is the contractor, the union's claims are bogus. 

"We wouldn't be the world's second largest demolition and abatement company if we didn't engage professional people and if we weren't treating them well," Willig said, adding that the company offers good wages, health benefits and has one of the best safety records in the industry. 

The company operates two legal entities: NCM Contracting Group L.P. for mostly union jobs and NCM Demolition and Remediation LP for mostly non-union jobs. The company offers both services to meet customer requirements, Willig said.