If you have traveled along the North Shore in the past week between Two Harbors and Silver Bay, you have probably noticed the large inflatable rat across from Betty’s Pies with the sign that reads “Shame On Kaski Construction For Lowering Area Standard Wages & Benefits.” In an effort to find out what was going on, I talked with the people who were manning the informational protest site and with Steven Kaski, founder of Kaski Construction. Here is what I learned.
The folks on site when I was there stated that the contractor (Kaski Construction) doesn’t pay the area standards in wages and benefits. “We are here standing up for workers rights and we just want to make sure that, with this being a DNR job, that is being financed with State tax dollars, that people who are working on these projects can take the money home to their families in wages and benefits that they should be getting based on area standards. That’s why we all live here, because we enjoy and need what we get paid. We want to inform the public about where their tax dollars are going and how it’s being spent.”
If you visit the Kaski Construction website, you will notice that the company, based in Duluth, has been working as a commercial general contractor since 2008. Steven Kaski pointed out that Kaski Construction is a Union shop which has its own union that is separate from other construction unions. They are an approved state contractor and Kaski stated that the company has “a very high reputation at the State level.” Kaski stated, regarding protests at his work sites, that he feels like he is dealing with “an organization that is trying to destroy him.”
In March of this year, Ironworkers local 512 staged a similar informational protest outside of a Kaski Construction site on Martin Road in Duluth. When the work at that site is completed it will provide Kaski Construction with new offices, a shop, and will include space for a training center.
Kaski said that the core value of his business is “precision.” He stated that he has to pay area standard wages and benefits and that if that was not the case, he would not have people willing to work for him. He also indicated that he has hired both union and nonunion workers during his career and has, at times, had quality issues with both.
In order to contract with the state for commercial work, construction companies have to ensure the state that they are in compliance with all applicable state laws and regulations related to fair employment practices and equal pay. Construction work must be completed in accordance with all state and municipal codes and the materials used in the work must meet with state standards. Prevailing wages for state funded construction work varies based on the specific work that is being performed and the professional certification of the person performing that job.
According to Angie’s list, Kaski Construction is currently rated at 4.7 out of 5. Kaski Inc is not currently accredited by the Better Business Bureau but the Bureau has assigned Kaski a rating of A+.
