Livermore Outlet Center Sparks Protest

 = Grim Reaper. Wait. What?

At the intersection of El Charro and Freisman roads stands the soul taker. He greets you when entering the Paragon Outlets construction site.

But no worries. The reaper is not here to take you away. Construction workers on the project are using the prop as part of an informational protest against Paragon Outlets and their general contractor, S.D. Deacon Corp.

The Carpenters Local 713, which represents workers on the project, says the contractor fails to pay "area standard" wages and benefits.

"What's particularly ironic is that Paragon is building a shopping center with great stores, but nobody is making any money," says Paul Cohen, spokesman for Carpenters Local 713. "If you undercut people's wages then nobody is going to shop at these stores."

Paul Cunha, vice president of S.D. Deacon Corp., says, "The union just wants to raise a big stink."

"It's kind of a waste of time on their part," he said in a phone interview.

Cunha says subcontractors were awarded the project based on the lowest qualified number in a competitive, open bid.

As for the Grim Reaper?

"They're just trying to get people's attention," Cunha said.

Yeah. It worked.