Pestronk said that U.S. Rep. Bob Brady brought Pestronk and his brother Matthew together with union leaders last Thursday. They met for more than two hours at the Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall, on Columbus Boulevard near Reed Street.
Pat Gillespie, business manager for the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, declined to comment this week.
Michael Pestronk said that union leaders asked Post Brothers to promise "100 percent union" workers at the Atlantic Building, a 330,000-square-foot office building that Post Brothers purchased in July for "more than $22 million." "We said, we can't promise [100 percent union jobs] today. We need to bid the project and we can go from there," said Pestronk.
Pestronk said that the meeting led to plans for union leaders to negotiate with subcontractors at the Goldtex to hire union workers to complete the $38 million renovation, which had been slowed by almost-daily protests by union picketers.
The first model apartment is expected to be ready by the end of September, and a couple of floors should be completed by year's end, Pestronk said.
Contact Valerie Russ at russv@phillynews.com or 215-854-5987. Follow her on Twitter @ValerieRussDN.
