Eric Olson, director of organizing for Sheet Metal Workers' Local Union 73, wrangles a giant inflatable rat into place during a picket of the use of nonunion labor in the conversion of a former furniture store in Hoffman Estates into the temporary archives of the future Barack Obama Presidential Center.

Eric Olson, director of organizing for Sheet Metal Workers' Local Union 73, wrangles a giant inflatable rat into place during a picket of the use of nonunion labor in the conversion of a former furniture store in Hoffman Estates into the temporary archives of the future Barack Obama Presidential Center. Eric Peterson | Staff Photographer

Representatives of Sheet Metal Workers' Local Union 73 picket the use of nonunion labor in the conversion of the former Plunkett Furniture store on Golf Road in Hoffman Estates into the temporary archives of the future Barack Obama Presidential Center.

Representatives of Sheet Metal Workers' Local Union 73 picket the use of nonunion labor in the conversion of the former Plunkett Furniture store on Golf Road in Hoffman Estates into the temporary archives of the future Barack Obama Presidential Center. Eric Peterson | Staff Photographer

A dispute over the use of nonunion labor in the conversion of a former Plunkett Furniture store in Hoffman Estates into the temporary archives of the future Barack Obama Presidential Center materialized late this week.

Eric Olson, director of organizing for Sheet Metal Workers' Local Union 73, said his main concern was whether the nonunion workers installing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning were being fairly paid and properly equipped for safety.

But he also questioned the lack of minorities and women he said he'd observed, which he described as being very rare for a project of its type.

"Why would you have someone on a government job with no minorities represented?" Olson asked.

The government is not actually running the construction project. The building is owned by Hoffman Estates Medical Development LLC, which hired Northfield-based Mid-Contintental Management LTD as the general contractor.

The National Archives and Records Administration is expected to become a tenant of the building once the work is completed.

Andrew Staskevicius of Mid-Continental Management said all lease requirements are being met and the labor contracts guarantee the payment of the prevailing wage as required by the federal Davis-Bacon Act.

Beyond that, there is no requirement for the use of union labor, he said.

Olson said the union isn't suggesting anything illegal is taking place but wants to make sure the workers -- whom he believes are European immigrants -- aren't being taken advantage of.

He said some have been seen wearing T-shirts, shorts and sneakers, which do not provide adequate safety for the work they're doing.

"It's not about throwing these guys to the wolves; it's about making sure these guys are properly represented," Olson said. "We expect that since we have the microscope on these guys, they will do the right thing."