Media Credit: Ryder Haske Herbert Campfield, 55, a local carpenter, protests outside Square 54 Monday morning. A local carpenters union is protesting the developer slated to work on Square 54, saying the developer has a history of exploiting migrant workers. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters began picketing in front of the empty lot across from the GW Hospital early this summer.
The picketers say that Boston Properties, the commercial developer overseeing Square 54, exploits its workers. Boston Properties is leasing the property from the University. George Eisner, organizing director of MARCC, said the contractors working on Boston Properties do not treat their workers - many of whom are immigrants properly and also pay them under the table.
"We have a lot of affidavit statements from workers," he said. "We have copies of pay stubs. We have where they show they don't pay income taxes.
" Eisner was unable to produce any documented proof of his allegations against Boston Properties. Yuchong Yi, vice president and regional council for Boston Properties, said the company is very careful when dealing with such allegations. "We require all of our contractors and any work that's done in our buildings to be performed in compliance to all applicable laws," Yi said.
"If someone is not working within all the laws, then we contact them and investigate them.
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