Union condemns ‘child labor’ in Stamford

Union members stage a protest outside the New School on Strawberry Hill in Stamford, Conn., Friday morning, a day after authorities said a 13-year-old boy was found working for a contractor on the site. Union members stage a protest outside the New School on Strawberry Hill in Stamford, Conn., Friday morning, a day after authorities said a 13-year-old boy was found working for a contractor on the site. Photo: Nelson Oliveira / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Nelson Oliveira / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Union condemns ‘child labor’ in Stamford 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

STAMFORD — A day after a 13-year-old boy was found doing electrical work at a school construction site, more than a dozen union members staged a protest outside the building.

“We’re asking for a level playing field,” said Ted Duarte, a senior organizer for the New England Regional Council of Carpenters. “We’re asking for legitimate contractors, union or not union, to have a real shot at getting real work and not having to compete against people who are exploiting children.”

The state Department of Labor’s Wage and Workplace Standards Division sent inspectors to the New School, an extension of Rogers Magnet Elementary, Thursday after learning of the violation. Authorities said they found the juvenile helping his father, an electrician working for D.F. McDermott, a contractor out of Ansonia.

Police removed the boy and his father from the construction area, but no one was arrested.

City Engineer Lou Casolo, whose office manages the project, said Thursday that the contractor was hired by the city’s Information Technology Department to install digital whiteboards.

On Friday morning, protesters were outside the school at 200 Strawberry Hill Ave. with a large inflatable “fat cat” gripping a construction worker by the throat. Protesters held picket signs with phrases like “Don’t exploit a child,” “We will not be silent” and “Protect kids. Don’t exploit them.”

“We want them to be a lot more careful on the vetting process of their contractors,” Duarte said. “There needs to be a lot more scrutiny.”

The owner of the electrical company, David McDermott, could not be reached for comment.