Construction workers walk off Clark job site in solidarity with grad union strikers

Photo | Timothy Doyle Picketers in front of the Clark University’s Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design work site on Wednesday morning

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By Timothy Doyle

Union workers at the construction site of Clark University’s Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design in Worcester on Tuesday walked off in solidarity with the Clark graduate workers union, which went on strike Monday.

The construction project is being managed by Shawmut Design and Construction of Boston and Consigli Construction Co. of Milford. Neither company returned a request for comment.

Those construction workers belonged to Operating Engineers Local 4 of Medway, Teamsters Local 25 of Boston, Laborers Local 243 of Auburn, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 96 of Worcester, according to representatives of Teamsters Local 170.

Eli Gillen, a business manager with the Teamsters, confirmed the walkout on Wednesday morning.

The workers were still not back on the construction site Wednesday, but it is unclear whether that was strike-related or rain-related as workers were supposed to be pouring concrete on Wednesday, said Shannon George, Teamster 170 secretary, treasurer, and principal officer

The workers had been moved to other job sites in Uxbridge and Boston,

Clark University Graduate Workers United went on strike on Monday, in response to what the newly formed union says is bad-faith negotiations by the university administration. Picketing continued at several locations around the campus on Wednesday morning.

The Clark University Graduate Workers United, officially unionized in March under the Teamsters Local 170.