The Western States Regional Council of Carpenters union picketed on Sept. 15 outside a project at 6380 Wilshire Blvd. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The Western States Regional Council of Carpenters union is continuing labor demonstrations outside a project at 6380 Wilshire Blvd. to raise awareness about fair conditions for construction workers.

The protesters demonstrated outside the building on Sept. 11 and Sept. 15, and plan to be back on the picket line next week. The project by Jamison Properties is converting a former office building on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard at La Jolla Avenue into a residential building. Western States Carpenters union members are not working on the project.

“Right now, you have workers that are currently not getting a fair share as far as area standards. They are not getting any type of benefits, and that is why we are here,” said Marco Yanez, of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters. “We are here letting everybody know that workers deserve good health care, a good pension when they retire. No workers should go on working 40 hours and when they retire after 30 years, they have nothing to fall back on. That is why we are here. We want to make sure that area standards are paid to the workers because at the end, these workers are continuing to build L.A. and are helping with housing.”

Yanez said the union is picketing at multiple properties currently under construction by Jamison Properties, including projects at 3564 Wilshire Blvd. in Koreatown, and 1055 W. Seventh Street near Downtown Los Angeles. He also cited Haphaestus Drywall, a subcontractor on the projects that he alleged is not treating workers fairly. Requests for comment from Jamison Properties and Haphaestus Drywall were not answered. Workers on the project declined to speak.

The Western States Regional Council of Carpenters union has received support from some city officials on its push for improved working conditions for construction employees. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, 1st District, recently met with the union workers.

“Councilmember Hernandez stands with construction workers and has seen firsthand the conditions too many workers face on the job, including exploitation, low pay and inadequate protections,” said Rhondaya Fishburne, deputy director of communications for Hernandez. “We cannot build the housing Los Angeles needs without the workers who build it. We can continue building while ensuring the people building it earn fair wages, receive strong benefits, and have safe working conditions.”

A spokesman for City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, 13th District, said the councilman, “stands in solidarity with the workers and plans to join them on the picket line soon.”

Yanez said the union plans to continue protesting at the projects on Wilshire Boulevard and Downtown L.A.

“We will probably be out here again next week on Wednesday or Thursday,” he added. “We are going to be here until the workers get justice. Enough is enough.”