United States Congressman Joseph Courtney Convenes Construction Industry Summit with University of Connecticut Officials

Hartford, CT, October 12, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The Connecticut Laborers’ District Council announced today that it will continue participating and increase its planning role in a series of recent construction industry meetings with University of Connecticut officials that were organized by U.S. Congressman Joseph Courtney (2nd-CT). These were the first in a series of meetings between state construction industry officials and new and existing university officials who are responsible for the UConn 2000 and future campus projects.

“These meetings were long overdue – roughly 10 years overdue. I commend Congressman Courtney for arranging these first set of meetings with the new University of Connecticut officials. I believe we are finally on the right track in preventing future safety and building regulation violations and saving the taxpayers of Connecticut millions of dollars,” said Charles LeConche, business manager, Connecticut Laborers’ District Council.

Participants at the first set of meetings included LeConche; John Farnham from the Associated General Contractors of Connecticut; U.S. Congressman Joseph Courtney; a representative from the Minority Construction Council; Jim Bradley, Barry Feldman and several other University of Connecticut officials.

”As UConn 2000 and future building projects proceed, students, and all Connecticut residents, need reassurances that their tax dollars are being spent wisely and that only proven and sound construction industry standards are used,” said Courtney.

Follow-up meetings with construction industry and university officials are planned for November 2007 as efforts to correct major safety and technical violations to a number of university campus buildings continue during the next eight months.

The Connecticut Laborers' District Council represents approximately 7,000 members employed in the construction industry and other building and trade fields throughout the state. The Laborers' International Union, founded in 1903 largely by immigrant workers, includes more than 800,000 members who work in construction and hazardous materials remediation, as well as in healthcare, the U.S. Postal Service and other public service sectors of the economy. For more information, call 860.296.8697.

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