Yes, that WAS a Giant Cat on Lancaster Ave.

Some drivers on Lancaster Ave. in Devon were doing mid-day double takes as they passed the construction site of Euro Motorcars new showroom Wednesday. Yes, that was a giant, inflatable cat wearing a diamond ring and choking a hard hat-wearing union member by the neck.

Representatives from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 654, Sheet Metal Workers Local Union Number 19, and Steamfitters Local Union 420 say the showroom is being built by non-union laborers who are not being paid "the prevailing wage" for this part of Chester County. 

Click on the video clips to see and hear how two union picketers make their cases.

Robert Cottone is President of IMC Construction the general contractor building the showroom. Reached by phone Thursday afternoon, Cottoni told TE Patch that prevailing wages only pertain to jobs paid for with state money and that the Euro Motorcars project is completely funded by the private sector.

Cottone stressed that he has a lot of respect for the unions and their members, saying his company works with both union and non-union workers, depending on which subcontractors bid successfully on a job. "The Philadelphia trade unions are great organizations with skilled, hardworking people. It's unfortunate that current economic conditions unfortunately prevent them from always being successful (in bidding for jobs)," Cottone told Patch.

While Cottone would not specify pay and benefits for workers on the dealership project he pointed out that "all building trades in the region were afforded an opportunity to bid" Cottone said the winning bidders were selected "on the merits of their bids based on experience, capability, and manpower. The unions are disappointed that theirs were not the successful bids."

Cottone said union and non-union subcontractors had an opportunity to bid on the project, adding "Euro Motorcars made it a point to make sure we to all trades in the area. It was very important to them." All trades in the region were afforded an opportunity to big on the job. 

The picketers say they plan to be back next Wednesday.