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(WICHITA, Kan.)—
Protester: “This isn't really a tactic. This is just what you do.” The protester was handing out a flier at Central Christian Church that calls Wichita based Drywall Systems a “rat contractor” and claims it doesn’t meet area labor standards for its carpenters.
“I know it's not true. I know how I feel about my employees. I know how hard I work on our relationships with our employees. I know how hard we work on our relationships with our contractors," says Drywall Systems president Larry Higgins.
The protester told FactFinder 12 that the salary information for their investigations comes from workers, but wouldn't share that information.
“We verify in the field with the workers,” says the protester. He wouldn’t say how much the workers are paid, or what is considered a “fair wage.”
Satterfield says he would lose workers if he didn’t have a fair wage and benefit package.
“I always feel that if someone has a beef they should be able to back it up. I support their right to protest anything they want. That's what makes America great. I don't have to agree with it but I support their right to do it,” says Satterfield.
FactFinder 12 was told the protesters, both men and women holding the signs are not union members. Although they would not tell us how much they’re paid, they say it’s “fair wage” for that type of work.
There has been a least one lawsuit filed against the union for these tactics.
Last year a federal appeals court upheld a $1.7 million jury verdict for an Atlanta drywall contractor. The union argued that its tactics were protected by free speech. But a jury and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the union campaign was designed to coerce third parties to stop doing business with the company.
