Las Vegas is due to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix for the first time in more than 40 years this November. While fans are excited at the idea of race cars speeding down the iconic Las Vegas Strip, one carpenter union worker is supposedly concerned about the safety of the grandstands for spectators.
F1 is trying to avoid footing a hefty bill for grandstand construction
Joe Dotson, who claims to be Data Engineering Lead for the Southwest Mountain States Carpenters, has warned that F1 is trying to avoid footing a hefty bill for grandstand construction by using cheap non-union laborers. He explained that most of those hired don’t have certain safety certifications, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cards:
Dotson, who works for a union that represents carpenters in Nevada and 11 other states, went on to claim that the F1 grandstands cost $2,500 each to build. However, he alleges the racing organization is paying the out-of-state workers $16 per hour to construct them, adding: “Del Taco pays better than that.”
Dotson has not provided any concrete evidence to back up his claims. VegasSlotsOnline News has reached out to him for comment.
This isn’t the first time the Las Vegas F1 has been called into question this month. MGM Resorts International took the heat for cutting down trees in front of the Bellagio to make room for grandstands along the racecourse.