Union Workers Lend a Hand to High Profile Playground Project at Minneapolis School

Minneapolis, MN (May 29, 2012) -- After teaming up to help push a stadium bill across the goal line, members of Minnesota’s labor community are banding together once again with the Minnesota Vikings to create something positive for a school and its community.

On Thursday, May 31, members of Laborers Union Local 563, Minnesota Laborers Employers Cooperation & Education Trust (LECET), and the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades will collaborate with volunteers from the Toro Company, the Minnesota Vikings, Minneapolis Public Schools, KaBOOM, and the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis, to build a new playground at Sheridan Arts Magnet School, at 1201 University Ave NE, in Minneapolis.

The new playground’s look is based on drawings created by Sheridan students who participated in a Design Day event in March. Members of the participating labor groups will apply their expertise to the project by helping lay footings and insuring the playground is built with the utmost in care and safety.

“As Laborers we have been blessed with the skills to help improve the lives of other people,” said Mike Bubalo, Business Agent for Local 563. “We are helping build more than a playground. We are building a community and place for childhood friendships to blossom into lifelong friendships.”

In addition to having about 20 Skilled Union building trades craft workers on site, the Laborers along with their Labor-Management cooperation affiliate, Minnesota LECET, will also be providing 250 hot dog lunches, grilled and served on-site by union members, to help celebrate this unique community partnership.

“Many times unions are only noticed working on large scale projects. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Bubalo. “It is these types of projects—like a playground at a community school--which make us very proud to do the work we do. We are proud union members who enjoy making a positive impact on other people’s lives.”

Event At-a-Glance:

WHEN: Thursday, May 31 (Note: all times approximate)

• 10:30 a.m. to 12:30: Playground construction by Union workers, Vikings front office staff and community volunteers.

• 12:30 p.m. to 1:40 p.m .: Vikings players and coaches participation.

• 1:40 p.m. to 2:00 p.m .: Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate project.

WHERE: Sheridan Arts Magnet School, 1201 University Ave NE, in Minneapolis.

About LECET:

Minnesota LECET is a non-profit labor/management organization created in 1992 to facilitate the positive relationship between labor and management within the construction industry. Recognizing there are mutual concerns of both labor and management, LECET advocates for training and safety measures while promoting the benefits of Union construction to Minnesota’s economy. For more information, please visit http://www.mnlecet.org.

About Local 563:

Local 563 represents nearly 5,000 skilled construction craft laborers that are trained in many facets of the construction industry. These laborers apply their trade in 32 counties in Minnesota and the state of North Dakota . Local 563 is affiliated with Laborers’ International Union of North America LIUNA, based in Washington , D.C. For more information, visit http://www.liuna.org/local563

About Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council:

The Council is an umbrella organization for union construction crafts that counts about 17,000 members and covers the counties of Anoka, Carver, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, McLeod, Mille Lacs, Scott, Sibley, Wright, eastern Sherburne and western Dakota. The council pursues state-of-the-art training programs, livable wages and safe working conditions for the men and women in the construction industry. For more information check out their website http://www.mplsbuildingtrades.org