DON’T DUFF YOUR COURSE CHOICE when you’re golfing this summer. Sugar Creek Golf Course in High Ridge (left) is the ace choice, offering special low rates for union members, retirees, first responders and active duty and retired military. St. Peters Golf Course and Banquet Center (right) is not recommended, as work there is being done by a non-union electrical contractor.
Golfers, union tournament planners, please take note
By ED FINKELSTEIN
Publisher
If you’re a golfer, there are two courses you need to be aware of:
• The St. Peters Golf Course has turned its back on unions, despite the fact the course is being built with funds from a bond issue that Labor supported. Union golfers and locals sponsoring tournaments are being asked to express their anger.
• The Sugar Creek Golf Course in High Ridge, MO is inviting unions to play by providing special benefits and recognizing lifetime Gold Cards issued by a formerly union-owned course, now under new management, that is refusing to recognize the cards.
AGAINST UNIONS
The new $6.6 million St. Peters Golf Course and Banquet Center is being wired by Birkel Electric, a contractor that pays below area standard wages and benefits negotiated by Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1, Business Manager Frank Jacobs said. The general contractor who hired Birkel is Demien Construction Co.
To add insult to injury, the new facility is being built with Prop. Q funds, a $12 million bond issue passed in August 2016 with the support of the Tri-County Labor Club, the St. Louis Building Trades Council and numerous unions. The project, called “The Cove at St. Peters” will also include an outdoor aquatic center.
For St. Peters to allow this to happen is strange, given that Mayor Len Pagano and the city’s leadership have for many years solidly supported unions, which have also supported many city initiatives.
If you are unhappy with this turn of events, Local 1 asks that you call Mayor Pagano and city aldermen to express your displeasure and your intent not to patronize the facility. (A list of the city’s political leadership with emails and telephone numbers accompanies this story.)
SUPPORTING UNIONS
In stark contrast, Sugar Creek Golf Course, located in High Ridge in northern Jefferson County, wants to support unions and is providing a special reduced rate for union members, retirees, first responders and active and retired military.
• The weekday rate for union members, retirees, first responders, active military and veterans is $18 for 18 holes or $12 for nine holes.
• On weekends, the rate is $22 for 18 holes or $15 for nine holes.
Sugar Creek is going one step further, recognizing life-time Gold Card memberships issued to union members and retirees at the former Teamsters Union Hills Golf Course, also in Jefferson County, which had been owned by Teamsters Local 688 as part of the former Teamsters Camp but is under new ownership.
The Gold Cards will be honored at Sugar Creek any day of the week at the same low rates for which they were issued – $10 for 18 holes or $7 for nine holes, including green fees and cart.
These are substantial discounts over the regular rates of $35 on weekends or $25 on weekdays.
‘SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR OUR UNION FAMILIES’
“My family has always supported our great unions here,” course owner Sorkis Webbe Jr. said. “When I took over Sugar Creek, I felt it important to do something special for our union families.” The Webbe family have long been strong union supporters.
“It was a shame the new ownership at what used to be the Teamsters Union Hills has so disrespected their obligations to the Gold Card members who earned the right to play at minimal cost,” Webbe added. “Given the life-long support my father and I have given the unions, I felt we had to do something. I’m glad I’m in a position to make it happen.”
Sugar Creek is located at 5224 Country Club Dr. in High Ridge. The course opens at 7:30 a.m., seven days a week. For information, call 636-677-4070, or email info@sugarcreekgolfcourse.com.
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Tell St. Peters political leaders you’re teed off
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 is asking union members to let St. Peters city officials know you’re unhappy the city is allowing a non-union subcontractor to wire its new $12 million golf course club house facilities.
Local 1 asks that you express your displeasure with a phone call or email to city officials.
MAYOR
Len Pagano
Phone: 636-278-2244, ext. 1233.
Email: LPagano@stpetersmo.net.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Dave Thomas
Phone: 636-248-5290.
Email: aldermandavethomas@gmail.com.
Rocky Reitmeyer
Phone: 636-485-5710.
Email: Ald_Reitmeyer@yahoo.com.
Judy Bateman
Phone: 636-485-5759.
Email: aldermanjudyb@gmail.com.
Jerry Hollingsworth
Phone: 636-262-0999.
Email: huntducks@charter.net.
Terri Violet
Phone: 636-734-1883.
Email: terrivioletward3@att.net.
Michael Shea
Phone: 636-795-7039.
Email: MichaelSheaward3@gmail.com.
Don Aytes
Phone: 636-441-9937.
Email: DonAytes@yahoo.com.
Patrick Barclay
Phone: 636-795-8255.
Email: aldermanbarclay@aol.com.
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