Teamsters Quit RI Building Trades Council Over Dispute Regarding Barletta, Contractor on 6/10
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
The Teamsters Local 251 have quit the powerful RI Building Trades Council headed by Michael Sabitoni -- a close political ally of Governor Gina Raimondo.
Sabitoni, who also serves as the Business Manager RI Laborers’ Local 271, has been one of Raimondo's biggest fundraisers and political supporters.
According to a letter from the Teamsters Matt Taibi to Sabitoni and Greg Mancini, the dispute is tied to the Laborers' relationship with Barletta Engineering, the Canton-Massachusetts contractor that is one of the principal firms on the $410 million 6/10 construction project. Barletta was selected by Raimondo's RI Department of Transportation just months after Tim Barletta made thousands of dollars in donations to RI Democratic political funds.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOf the total project cost, Barletta and its partners in the 6-10 Constructors Joint Venture's portion of the project is $247 million. The project was awarded to 6-10 Constructors Joint Venture after it was, the Barletta entities claim, the low bid by “more than 80 million dollars.”
An ongoing GoLocal investigation found that soil brought to the project by Barletta has tested positive for potentially cancer-causing contamination. That investigation has sparked both state and federal investigations.
One of the materials found in the samples according to the testing firm RI Analytical's results was benzo(a)pyrene, "A chemical that comes from certain substances when they are not burned completely. It is found in car exhaust, smoke from wood fires, tobacco, oil and gas products, charred or grilled foods, and other sources. It may also be found in water and soil. Benzo(a)pyrene can cause a skin rash, a burning feeling, skin color changes, warts, and bronchitis. It may also cause cancer," according to the National Cancer Institute.
Two of the samples provided to RI Analytical measured 3.4 and 3.5 parts per million for benzo(a)pyrene and that is more than four-times the Rhode Island standard of .08 according to the testing firm.
The Teamsters in their letter charge that Sabatoni's Laborers are taking work that should be awarded to the Teamsters. "Due to continued jurisdictional encroachment by the Laborers on Teamster work, particularly with the exclusive relationship of the Laborers with Barletta Engineering, and the unwillingness and/or inability of the RI Building Trades Council to address jurisdictional disputes; Teamsters Local 251 sees no further need or use to be part of such an organization," Taibi wrote in his letter.
Beyond the investigation of improper disposal of contaminants and this labor dispute, Barletta executives have been barred from making political donations in Massachusetts.
In the letter from Taibi, he charges, "Since BuildRI does not address jurisdictional concerns, nor enforces the terms of the Project Labor Agreements that labor organizations sign, particularly with regards to prevailing rates; Teamsters Local 251 sees no further need or use to be part of such an organization."
"Teamsters Local 251 will not provide any more dues or donations to these respective organizations, no participated in any form. Please remove any and all insignia, names or any other pubic displays associating the Teamsters with either organization," adds Taibi.
Sabitoni did not respond to request for comment.
EDITOR'S NOTE: After repeated efforts to reach Barletta Engineering, the company now, via its lawyers, assert that Timothy Barletta is not associated directly with the company and has not been for over 10 years. However, when Timothy Barletta made the political contributions in 2017, he completed a campaign donor card listing his employer as Barletta Engineering. The Board of Election filing is here.
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- NEW: RIDOT Announces Removal of Contaminated Soil at 6/10 Project After GoLocal Investigation
- Questions Emerging About Investigation of Alleged Contamination at 6/10 Project
- RI State and Providence Police Pull Details Off 6/10 Connector Worksite Over Contamination Concerns
- Federal Investigators Now Probing Contamination at $410 Million 6/10 Project
- 6/10 Investigation: RIDOT Fails to Notify Neighbors of Contaminants - Children Live Just Feet Away
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