Union Protesters Gather Outside Northfield Park.

The unions will continue the protest each morning and members will be urged 
to visit the Thistledown racino in North Randall instead of the Hard Rock facility.

Union workers from the Akron area picketed Monday morning outside Northfield Park horse track to protest the construction of the new Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park Police Chief Mark Wentz said today.
“Everything’s been peaceful so far,” said Wentz. “We’ve spoken to them and they’ve been compliant with our requests.”

Wentz estimated that there are about 30 protesters, who have also set up a large inflatable rat that Wentz estimated is a “good 25 feet high.” He said he is unsure of the issue and does not know what union is involved, adding that there could be more than one.

Jeff Hathaway, business manager with Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ Union Local 109, said local union workers are not being used on the project. Laborers’ International Union Local 894 and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 18 also joined the protest, he said.

Hathaway said the unions will continue the protest each morning and urged its members to visit the Thistledown racino in North Randall instead of the Hard Rock facility