The Week of June 15, 2020 — Union Picketers Arrive on Site… Construction Stops, and The Pandemic Continues

The Week of June 15, 2020 —  Union Picketers Arrive on Site… Construction Stops, and The Pandemic Continues

The featured image for this week is of a helicopter coming in for a landing on the north helipad against the background of the Adult Hospital tower. What is unique about this photo is that the helicopter was captured on the hill where the small sectarian campus was founded in 1905. To the right are two (2) of the original cottages that were on the hill at the time the property was purchased. The four (4) cottages that still remain on the hill were built approximately a quarter of a century before the helicopter was invented. Today, the life flight helicopters landing and taking off from either the north or south helipads are a common occurrence.

The week began with a union picket–The Glazier Union is picketing at the east Anderson Street gate. It is my understanding that the Glaziers (the laborers who set glass) are asking for more money. Because of the picket, the elevator operators have walked off the job resulting in floor access problems. The Glaziers from Tower Glass are not crossing the picket line, thus the installation of the Galleria glass panels is on hold. It is anticipated the picketing may last a couple of days.

COVID – 19 UPDATE

The COVID-19 stats dated June 15, 2020: there are rumors that some States are considering another stay at home order as the virus is spreading again in certain regions.

The Construction Site is Picketed — Day One

5:54 AM: The picket line is being walked in front of the Anderson Street (east) gate. Laborers standing alongside the fence refuse to cross the picket line.
8:27 AM: All is quiet on the site as the picketers at the Anderson Street (east) gate have, for all practical purposes, shut down the site.
Noon: The picketers have have left the site.
8:03 PM: Will the picketers be back tomorrow?

The Construction Site is Picketed — Day Two

7:12 AM: On day two, eight picketers were walking the line. Beyond the security fence, it appears there is some activity at the job site.
A closeup of the picket line. Three laborers at the left talk with one of the picketers. However, there appeared to be some activity on the other side of the security fence. Some of the laborers are walking about, and in the middle of the frame, I see one of the surveyor’s trucks with the tailgate down and the back lid open.
Some of the pod doors are open, which indicates that at least a skeleton crew is working most likely around the outside of the building.
By 9:45 AM the picket line was nowhere in sight. The gate appeared to be locked, but on the other side of the security fence, I could see activity. I noticed the crane’s boom was still down, meaning that the glaziers were not on the job…No window panels would not be installed on the Galleria today. The east Anderson Street gate remained closed the rest of the day.
The south gate was open all day.

BACK TO WORK — THE PICKET LINE IS GONE

At 6:00 AM, June 17, the east Anderson Street gate was open, and there were no signs of a picket line. From all appearances, everything at the job site is back to normal; ALMOST. I was informed that he glaziers left early yesterday and are picketing other job sites. The glaziers installing the glass panels around the Galleria are not at the Loma Linda construction site as they are picketing elsewhere.

The east Anderson Gate is open, the picket line is gone.
The south yard at 6:02 AM.
The crane and the telescopic lift are quiet today as the glaziers (glass panel installers) are picketing another job site.

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Dennis E. Park, MA
After graduate school Dennis accepted a position at Loma Linda University. He worked there for 42 years in the areas of administration and financial management, also teaching accounting and management to dietetic students at the School of Public Health. Through the years Dennis has chronicled the growth of the campus, including the construction of the Drayson Center and the Centennial Complex and the razing of Gentry Gym. He is the author of "The Mound City Chronicles: A Pictorial History of Loma Linda University, A Health Sciences Institution 1905 - 2005." dEp 09.30.2016 🔨
4 Comments
    • Dennis W Schall

    Dennis, do you know how many acres the purchase of the resort property include when John Burden purchased it.
    p.s. my brother rented one of those cottages for a while.

      • Dennis E. Park, MA

      I believe 76 acres.

        • Dennis E. Park, MA

        What year(s) was that, and does he have any photos of the cottage? What is his name?

    • Dennis W Schall

    David Schall, 1976 and 1977. no pictures though