Union workers show support for Saugus Walmart project

SAUGUS – As representatives from Walmart and WS Development gave another presentation to the Saugus Planning Board last week on the proposed Walmart store on Route 1, more than a dozen members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103 showed up to put their support behind the project.Union Representative Rich Antonellis said members arrived en masse because Walmart signed an agreement to use all union construction workers if the project gets the approval from the Planning Board.?I told my members that we had a signed agreement that we would work on the job, the only hitch was we had to get this passed through the planning board?” said Antonellis. “Without that approval from the town of Saugus this project goes nowhere, thus creating no jobs for my members. It was important for them to come out to tell the Planning Board that they want to see this built.”Antonellis said Walmart and local unions have a good working relationship and Steven V. Restivo, Walmart?s Senior Director of Community Affairs, agreed.?We?ve certainly used union labor on other projects,” said Restivo. “In Massachusetts and nationally and our ultimate decision varies community by community.”Antonellis said there are around 160 members of the Local 103 in Saugus and close to 1,000 union construction workers total. If the Walmart project does get approval, he said it would be a boost for the town.?Walmart recognizes that by hiring the local workforce through the unions, it benefits the local economy in general,” said Antonellis. “Our goal is to get the unemployed local workforce back to work on these projects that are basically in their backyard.”While nothing has been approved or put out to bid for the project, Antonellis said it?s unlikely Walmart would backtrack on their agreement to use union labor, even though it?s not legally binding.?My members ask me, ?Can you be 100 percent sure that they won?t renege on their agreement?? said Antonellis. “Our agreement isn?t 100 percent legal in the sense that we can?t sue them if they renege, but Walmart is fighting to come to the city of Boston. If they think they?re going to pull a fast one on the building trades and then come into Boston with open arms, they?re crazy.”?I?m confident,” added Antonellis. “I don?t think they?ll pull a fast one. They?ve been working with other trades in other states and some of my contacts in New York and elsewhere have said they live up to their word.”