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Boston Corporate Campaign Wins Support from Governor

April 20, 2009

Six months of corporate campaigning exposing Boston’s biotechnology companies’ failure to employ local labor in their building projects—despite receiving millions of dollars in tax subsidies—has returned dramatic results for Local 103 and the Massachusetts Building and Construction Trades.

On April 14, Gov. Deval Patrick, speaking before the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council’s annual meeting, said: “I ask you as a partner, a friend and as your governor [to] give unions a fair shake.” 

Patrick’s statement came after Local 103’s “Stop Biotech Looting” campaign that featured the Web site http://www.stopbiotechlooting.org/, picketing, billboards, editorials and a petition to the governor questioning why companies with CEO’s like Genzyme’s Henri Termeer—who makes $35 million a year—should receive tax dollars and then turn their backs on local union labor.

“There are good capable members of the building trades out there looking for work,” said Patrick.  “Work with me and each other.”

During the corporate campaign, Local 103 responded to critics who said that without a large investment of tax dollars, biotechnology companies would leave for North Carolina or other venues.

“The wealth of infrastructure and brain power in this part of the country brings these companies to Massachusetts. They certainly don’t need another billion dollars to stay, but they’ll get it unless taxpayers stand up to corporate greed,” stated a posting on the Web site.

“Gov. Patrick’s statement is a step in the right direction,” says Local 103 Business Manager Mike Monahan who sees the potential for a project labor agreement covering the biotech sector.