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WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is home to thousands of hard working men and women trained in any one of more than 20 different building trades, including electricians, carpenters, ironworkers, laborers, steamfitters, plumbers and others; and
WHEREAS, many of these highly skilled professionals receive their training through local apprenticeship schools funded and sponsored by organized labor; and
WHEREAS, the ability of these training centers to continue to educate young men and women of the City of Pittsburgh and to provide productive and rewarding careers for them depends on support from local businesses and organizations, which recognize the value that their skills can bring to any construction project; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is also home to thousands of professional contractors who are highly capable of performing any type of construction services efficiently and cost effectively; and
WHEREAS, the Hilton Hotel is in the process of conducting a multimillion dollar renovation project to its hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, to perform this renovation, the Hilton Hotel is electing to utilize non-local contractors who are not supportive of local organized labor and who fail to recognize their importance to this community; and
WHEREAS, the members of Pittsburgh City Council wish to show their support for local contractors and local organized labor, and, in particular, for the building trades industry and its importance to the health and economic well being of this region.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of Pittsburgh City Council will not conduct or promote business at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Hilton Hotel is strongly encouraged to reconsider its decision and plans to utilize out-of-state contractors and non-union labor in its renovation plans if it wishes to be recognized as a good corporate citizen and in good standing with this elected body.