Labor dispute protest moves to Martha Berry Highway, bypass intersection
Members of the Southeastern Carpenters Regional Council are protesting at the intersection of Martha Berry Highway and the Rome bypass with a banner that reads “Shame on Dr. Stephen Briggs and Berry College.”
Their morning began at the entrance to Berry College (shown above), but police had them move from the entrance of the campus.
Jimmy Gibbs, director of special projects for the group, claims the college is working with a construction company that doesn’t provide health care, fair wages, or retirement benefits. Gibbs says he tried to work with Stephen Briggs, the president of Berry, to reach an agreement concerning The Circle Group, a company currently working at the construction of resident halls on campus.
The Circle Group is based in Alpharetta. When called for comment, a woman who answered the phone confirmed the company is working on resident halls on the campus, but said the appropriate people to talk with would not be in the office until Monday.
Because the campus is closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, calls to the college president and public relations offices were unanswered.
“We’re here today to bring to the public’s attention an on-going labor dispute,” said Gibbs. “Circle Group doesn’t meet area standards. … If these workers want to take their kid to the doctor, they can’t.”
Gibbs said his group has budgeted to continue their protest for at least two years.
