MERRILLVILLE | Ironworkers picketed a commercial building site Thursday, contending the construction company isn't paying area wage rates and that the working conditions are unsafe.

The claims are refuted by the builder.

Bill Tarkington, journeyman with Iron Workers Local 395, said the union has about 20 members doing the informational picketing at the site of the commercial dry-cleaning facility on 86th Place. The building has been under construction for "a few weeks," he said.

"The guys are working in unsafe conditions," he said. "The job site is muddy, and guys were in baskets yesterday without being harnessed. The company isn't paying fair wages."

Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found no safety violations on the site Thursday, said Sean Keefer, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Labor,

"IOSHA found that fall protection was properly outfitted, and fall protection was being worn properly," Keefer said. "There was no safety violation at the job site."

Crown Point-based Vanco Construction Services is the construction manager for the more than $1 million project, according to the project manager, who asked not to be identified fearing retaliation.

The company has a stringent safety program, and all safety issues have been addressed, he said.

Vanco hires both union and nonunion workers for construction projects depending on the project owner's wishes, he said. The owner of the building chose not to use union labor, which would have added 40 percent to construction costs, the project manager said.