Residential Construction Workers Return to Work at SelectBuild After Striking to Protest Violations of Federal Labor Law

Nearly fifty residential construction workers employed by SelectBuild returned to work after courageously standing up for their rights by walking off four different job sites in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada yesterday to protest against violations of federal labor law by the company.

The construction crews at SelectBuild are demanding better pay, benefits and a safe working environment. They allege their employer has responded with threats and intimidation tactics. For example, Alejandro Rivas, a former SelectBuild employee, said he was threatened with termination if he continued speaking up about conditions at the company.

“At a meeting with supervisors, we were told that if SelectBuild learned we were participating in union actions our working hours would be cut until we ended up with no work,” said Rivas. “I am determined to keep fighting. I want a solution to obtain safer working conditions, good pay and medical benefits.”

Gilberto Corona experienced similar treatment from supervisors at SelectBuild. Supervisors threatened loss of work unless he removed his LiUNA! t-shirt.

Threats and intimidation tactics designed to discourage workers from coming together in a union, such as the actions SelectBuild employees describe, are prohibited by federal law under the National Labor Relations Act.

Yesterday’s strikes at the four jobsites, which included projects at a school, apartment complex, housing development and retirement community, began at 6:30 a.m. and ended at noon. Afterwards, crews from the different locations gathered with twelve former SelectBuild workers and more than fifty supporters from LiUNA! outside the retirement community project located at 1935 Paseo Verde Pkwy in Henderson where they picketed together for an hour.

After expressing their grievances, workers returned to their jobs at SelectBuild today, although the company has yet to meet their demands for better working conditions.

SelectBuild is a subsidiary of Building Materials Holding Company (BMHC), a Fortune 1000 company with more than $2.3 billion in revenues in 2007. SelectBuild does more than 80 percent of its business in Arizona, California and Nevada, where their largest customers include KB Home, Lennar, D.R. Horton, Richmond American, Ryland Homes and Shea Homes.