Union construction workers took to the streets of New York on Wednesday to protest Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross’ seat on the NFL’s social justice committee.
The group organized under the name “Count Me In” accuses Ross of condoning “racism, sexism and union-busting” through his Related real estate business that is working on a project in New York’s Hudson Yard development.
Protestors arrested at demonstration against Ross
Police arrested several of the protestors who set up near the NFL’s New York headquarters clad in Dolphins-colored T-shirts that read “Step Down Steve.”
JUST NOW: #CountMeIn Union members arrested in front of NFL HQ in New York City in protest of @MiamiDolphins owner Steve Ross. @Circa pic.twitter.com/p9NstM5iiV
— Kay Angrum (@kayangrum) August 22, 2018
A throng of protestors and bystanders gathered at the site.
Construction workers are risking arrest today to stand up against unscrupulous, anti-union developers like @RelatedCos who place workers in unsafe conditions and deny them the respect they deserve on the job. #CountMeIn pic.twitter.com/K9161BzwfU
— NYC CLC (@CentralLaborNYC) August 22, 2018
Ross sued union workers over $20B project
The protest appears to be a response to Ross’ lawsuit against unionized labor. Crain’s, a New York business publication, reports that Ross sued union workers earlier this year, claiming that they bilked his company out of $100 million during the first phase of a $20 billion development project.
Related is seeking to complete the second half of the Hudson Yards project open-shop, which would allow the company to use non-union labor, according to the report.
The social justice committee Ross sits on consists of several NFL owners and players as a cooperative effort to address the social issues that have been prevalent for many of the league’s players.
Count Me In appears to have targeted his seat on that committee as a way to draw attention to their cause.
This article appeared in Yahoo! Sports.
