Angry Hardhats Protest at Marlins Stadium
Local construction workers want jobs to go to locals
By WILLARD SHEPARD and BRIAN HAMACHER
Updated 7:07 PM EST, Tue, Nov 17, 2009
Waving signs and chanting emphatically, hundreds of angry construction workers lined up outside the site of the new Marlins ballpark in Little Havana today to protest the hiring of non-local workers.
The workers claim that the project is taking jobs that should have gone to Miamians and giving them to out of towners. They said the percentage of jobs that are supposed to go to locals is out of whack.
Officials with the Marlins said they're meeting the numbers, that 400 people have been hired for the project so far and that another 600 workers will be hired after the first of year.
Lies said the angry mob, many of whom had been turned away when they came looking for work.
"The stadium was supposed to bring jobs here and help improve our economy. But that's a lie," Jesus Contreras told the Miami Herald.
Though there were no incidents, police on horseback were called in to keep anything from getting out of hand.
Construction on the $650 million stadium began in the summer. The ballpark is expected to be ready for opening day in 2012.
First Published: Nov 17, 2009 12:57 PM EST
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