A community organizer says the labor agreement for the Maritime Commerce Terminal project planned for New Bedford gives labor unions the upper hand in hiring for the project.  John "Buddy" Andrade of the Old Bedford Village Development Corporation says city officials didn't push hard enough to make a place for local residents, who do not belong to a union.

Economic Development Director Matt Morrissey says the Maritime Terminal is a state project, and it was decided early on it would be a union job.  He says the approach makes sense for a complex, two year construction project, that the state wants completed in 19 months time.

Morrissey says the city is still working with labor unions on apprenticeship programs to help non-union workers get on the job.  Thursday at 5pm, construction sub-contractors are invited to the Downtown library to review the project labor agreement, and learn about the bidding process.

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