Small group of protesters rallies against Pulte

A handful of people protested early Wednesday in front of Pulte Homes’ Solera development along Hunt Highway, claiming the homebuilder and its contractors provide poor working conditions and unfair pay.

They stood along the busy road with signs that read “Pulte homes do the right thing” and “Pulte workers thirst for justice.”

But Pulte Homes officials say this is part of a year-and a-half-long “harassment campaign” waged by unions and using the company’s name for publicity.

One of the protesters, Pedro Gonzales, said he worked for a contractor for Pulte. Gonzales said workers were unfairly compensated for their work and did not receive insurance, raises or vacations. He also claimed that working conditions were poor and several people had been fired for no reason.

Gonzales said he and a few others were holding up the signs and handing out flyers to let passersby know about the “injustices” they faced with the homebuilder.

But Pulte Homes spokeswoman Jacque Petroulakis said, “Pulte Homes does not employ these workers. The claims being made are unwarranted.”

Pulte does hire subcontractors to handle various elements of home construction, but they hold those subcontractors to high standards, she said. “We have repeatedly asked the unions for any information so we could investigate any claims being made on unsafe or unfair working conditions on our sites,” she said. “We have never received anything.”

Petroulakis said she is familiar with the protests like the one at Solera on Tuesday.

“This has been going on for more than a year,” she said. “It’s the same five or six people who come to different sites across the Valley. Unfortunately these union reps are targeting Pulte and other home builders for publicity purposes.”

Petroulakis said Pulte does not have a position on unions but does support a safe working environment and quality construction.