Local Iron-workers Heading to Hockeytown
Written by Paul Graif on 19 June 2020
A call is going out for Ironworkers from Kahnawà:ke to work in Detroit. Oliver Montour is the Director of Labour with the Kahnawà:ke Labour Office:
“360 Iron-workers needed for Local 25 in Detroit, structural Iron-workers, rod busters, riggers: some of the projects that they have going on immediately right now are Amazon distribution, it’s a 3.1 Million sq. ft. plant, the Chrysler plant is starting next week, the Gordie Howe Bridge is going to be starting very, very soon.”
According to Montour, while Kahnawà:ke Iron-workers have been in Detroit in the past, this is the first time in a long time that large numbers are needed in the Motor City:
“There wasn’t much work, it’s like Iron-workers always follow booming out, where the work is we’ll go. It’s been relatively slow over there, but they have a big boom going on right now.”
Montour says that the shifts will last around 6 to 7 days at a time meaning that most Iron-workers will be gone from home for long stretches:
“That’s been an issue, on the task Force we’ve spoken with, they’re still returning home. But, given the fact that the there’s going to be work 6-10, 7-10, 7-12 (shifts), the way it looks, they wouldn’t be coming home for a little while anyways. If you’re working 7-12 shifts, you’re not going to be home until the job is basically done. Even with the Iron-workers in New York right now, we’re having the same situation, if they’re working down there, you’re coming across the border, that’s not a Task Force directive, that’s right from the Federal Law, so you’re under a 14-day quarantine.”
