EDITOR,

I am writing on behalf of the Stanislaus-Merced Building and Construction Trades Council regarding recent protests that were staged in Patterson by carpenters from Local 152. This action was not and is not endorsed by the delegates of our council, in which the carpenters are not affiliated.

I would like to state that the majority of those working on the Patterson Amazon facility who are skilled in trades are local area contractors or contractors who will utilize local area hiring halls for manpower. However, there are some out-of-state contractors who will be bringing their own labor force, meaning they will not use local workers, and those wages will not stay in our community.

Billy Powell, secretary-treasurer, Valley Building Trades Council, Modesto