Union Alleges Violation In La Grange

LA GRANGE, IL — A union is alleging that a contractor painting a La Grange water tower is violating a state labor law.

Late last month, Painters District Council No. 14 filed a complaint with the state Department of Labor. It said Seven Brothers Painting Inc. of Shelby Township, Michigan, is violating the Illinois Preference Act by not hiring any Illinois workers. Four Seven Brothers employees are now working on the project, the complaint said.

In an email to Patch, Mark O'Donnell, the union's director of organizing, said the complaint was filed because of a state law requiring that 90 percent of workers on public works projects be Illinois residents during times of unemployment over 5 percent. The state's jobless rate is 7.1 percent.

However, Vlad Vushaj of Seven Brothers said in an interview that La Grange is paying for the tower project with its own money, not outside funds. So the state law in question does not apply, he said.

In February, the Village Board heard the same objection during the meeting in which trustees approved the contract with Seven Brothers.

At the time, attorney Mark Burkland contended the Illinois Preference Act did not apply because only local money would be used. This followed a debate in which one trustee urged his colleagues to support the second lowest bidder, an Illinois company.

A couple of days after the meeting, the union asked the Department of Labor about Burkland's advice. A top official told the union that the village was incorrect.

"Any project (municipal or state) that uses taxpayer dollars is subject to the Illinois Preference Act," Robert Parrilli, a department division manager, said in an email. "You can send this email to the municipality and if they like, I will address them on this matter."

Burkland did not return Patch's message for comment at the time.

The tower in question is on Tilden Avenue next to Gordon Park. It is about 30 years old and was last painted in 2004, according to village documents.