On Wednesday, July 15, 2015, construction workers working on Phillips Exeter buildings on contract for EnviroVantage, joined with Building Wreckers 1421 to protest allegedly unfair practices by EnviroVantage.
Men and women alike come out with picket signs promoting their cause, shouting for increase in wages, better working environments, and benefits, among other things.
The protesters were outside the construction complex for the school near Water Street, enticing cars to honk their horns, answering passerby on questions of their cause, all with a gigantic inflatable rat on the next block to mock EnviroVantage.
A second protest was planned for Thursday, July 16, but the protesters did not appear due to unknown circumstances.
Elena Gosalvez-Blanco, the Summer School Director, released a statement in the form of email to all staff and students of Exeter Academy, stating that the protesters were “Union Workers, paid to protest at the construction sites that utilize non-union workers…”, as well as saying that Phillip Exeter “uses the most-qualified, most efficient contractors, regardless of their union affiliation…” She said she was “sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you this morning.”
Repeated calls and email messages to protest leaders drew no response.