This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Union Members Protest Outside of Menard's

IBEW 176 protesting lighting contract.

Members of the International Brothers of Electrical Workers Local 176, based in Joliet, protested the Bolingbrook  contract with non-union, Glen Ellyn based U.S. Lighting, Inc.

Wendall Perkins, a Kankakee resident and member of IBEW 176 since 1996, said the organization was protesting because the Menard's store chose a non-union contractor for a lighting project instead of supporting one of the local union contractors who purchase from their store on a regular basis.

"It's not fair for them to come in and take our business," Perkins said. "Doesn't help the economy for the little guy."

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Perkins and fellow IBEW member Pete Frazer said they have done a lot of work in Bolingbrook over the years, including contracts with Walmart, Kohls and new homes on the west side of town.

A Menard's manager said the protest was an informational picket only and that the union members were already gone by lunchtime.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?