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KANSAS CITY, KAN -
Union carpenters are calling for metro residents to boycott Schlitterbahn in Kansas City, Kansas, claiming that the park violated its development agreement with Wyandotte County and did not hire local workers to build the new water park.
Officials with the Carpenters District Council of Kansas City say that Schlitterbahn did not live up to it's promise with the county to use metro construction workers as part of an agreement that will give the water park $225 million in public financing.
"They've hired a number of contractors who've brought in immigrant workers and not paid them the prevailing wage," said Dave Wilson of the Carpenter's District Council of Kansas City. "We've talked to some of the workers out there on the project that told us they were getting $100 a day working sun-up to sundown. Lots of hours, very little pay."
In a statement, Schlitterbahn disputes the carpenters' claims saying "we've spent more than $178 million in our local economy employing local and union workers for construction. Schlitterbahn has also hired more than 300 area residents for seasonal park operation. In fact, less than 1/2 of one percent of the total project investment has been spent on our Texas-based team of water park experts and designers."
Schlitterbahn says it continues to hire Kansas City-based union electricians and plumbers. The company claims all workers are paid prevailing wages and all are legal U.S. residents.
Wyandotte Unified Government administrator Dennis Hays says that he was aware of complaints that Schlitterbahn was paying sub-standard wages to workers from outside the metro area in violation of their agreement.
"We are working to enforce that provision of the development agreement," said Hays.
The Unified Government says it will review construction practices on site on a monthly basis from here on out to make sure Schlitterbahn lives up to its contract.
Officials with the Carpenters District Council of Kansas City say that Schlitterbahn did not live up to it's promise with the county to use metro construction workers as part of an agreement that will give the water park $225 million in public financing.
"They've hired a number of contractors who've brought in immigrant workers and not paid them the prevailing wage," said Dave Wilson of the Carpenter's District Council of Kansas City. "We've talked to some of the workers out there on the project that told us they were getting $100 a day working sun-up to sundown. Lots of hours, very little pay."
In a statement, Schlitterbahn disputes the carpenters' claims saying "we've spent more than $178 million in our local economy employing local and union workers for construction. Schlitterbahn has also hired more than 300 area residents for seasonal park operation. In fact, less than 1/2 of one percent of the total project investment has been spent on our Texas-based team of water park experts and designers."
Schlitterbahn says it continues to hire Kansas City-based union electricians and plumbers. The company claims all workers are paid prevailing wages and all are legal U.S. residents.
Wyandotte Unified Government administrator Dennis Hays says that he was aware of complaints that Schlitterbahn was paying sub-standard wages to workers from outside the metro area in violation of their agreement.
"We are working to enforce that provision of the development agreement," said Hays.
The Unified Government says it will review construction practices on site on a monthly basis from here on out to make sure Schlitterbahn lives up to its contract.
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