TEACHERS, LABORERS CALL ON SUPERINTENDENT TO INVESTIGATE APPARENT USE OF CHILD LABOR ON EDINA SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Eyewitnesses report that a boy who appeared to be 13 or 14 years old was seen performing potentially dangerous tasks without proper safety equipment 

ST PAUL, MN (July 1, 2014) – Today, representatives of Minnesota teachers’ and construction laborers’ unions called on the Edina School District to investigate charges that a contractor working on an addition to Cornelia Elementary School has employed child labor on the job.  The individual in question, who appeared to be 13 or 14 years of age, was seen doing potentially dangerous work without proper safety equipment, in possible violation of state and federal laws.

In a letter to Edina Schools Superintendent Ric Dressen, the unions indicate that the youth was observed on the job site on multiple occasions performing tasks ranging from moving and placing concrete block to operating machinery to cutting block with a concrete saw.  The letter states that, on all but one occasion, the witnesses saw the work performed without the use of a hard hat, safety vest, or eye protection.  

A formal complaint was also submitted today to the U.S. Department of Labor and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry based on a potential violation of child labor laws.  But the ability of Federal and state regulators to investigate the charge is hampered by the fact that the identity of the youth’s employer is still unknown.  According to the letter, the crews have used unmarked vehicles and equipment.  

“I’ve raised two teenagers, and it makes me sick to think about a kid doing dangerous work with no safety gear and inadequate supervision,” said Tim Mackey, Business Manager of Laborers’ Local 563.  “A construction site is no place for children.  Kids should be sitting in classrooms, not building them.”

The Cornelia Elementary School addition is part of a 10-year facilities plan to update the school buildings according to the district’s website.  

Safe, healthy children are a priority for the teachers of Edina. “We need to take these charges seriously,” said Rob Gardner, a district English teacher and president of Education Minnesota/Edina. “The district should investigate this situation and ensure that our children—our core priority—are being kept safe.”

“I think the Edina School District is fortunate that we caught the problem before someone got hurt or worse,” said Mackey.  “It’s time for the district to take a closer look at who they do business with and start looking for a better class of contractor.  For our part, we intend to pursue this issue until we’re certain that no contractor can put a child in harm’s way, in Edina or anywhere else in our area.”

About LIUNA:

Chartered in 1968 by the Laborers International Union of North America, LIUNA, the Laborers District Council of MN and ND and its seven affiliated Local Unions represent about 12,000 workers in Minnesota, North Dakota and Northwestern Wisconsin. For more information check out their website or Facebook page  www.minnesotalaborers.org   or  www.facebook.com/MinnesotaLaborers 

About Education Minnesota:

Education Minnesota represents 70,000 professionals working together for excellence in education for all students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.

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