Several local members of the Michigan Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ Union formed a picket line Thursday in front of the Human Ecology Building.

The group, which also picketed Wednesday, is protesting low wages and poor working conditions for nonunion workers by an MSU subcontractor, J & S Plastering.

“We will be out here until this is resolved, but I don’t see it getting resolved today,” said Greg Brisboy, a business agent and full-time representative for Local 16 of the Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ Union in Lansing.

Nonunion employees are currently earning an hourly wage of $12, Brisboy says, which is $10 lower than the wage earned by area union members. Several rooms are currently being renovated in the Human Ecology Building that require the services of union and nonunion workers.

“They’re afraid to come forward, because they’re afraid they will lose their jobs,” Brisboy said.

If an agreement is not reached, a letter will be sent to MSU listing the violations workers say the university is guilty of. If the note receives no response, a letter will then be sent to the Michigan Department of Labor along with a copy of the document provided to MSU officials.