And while you're at it...Please Come out of the Closet.

Connecticut Labor Leader Calls For Immediate Boycott Of ESPN By Professional Baseball, Football, Hockey & Basketball League Players

For immediate release: September 2, 2011 For more information: Ron Dresner ron@dennispr.com 860.523.7500 m 860.305.7728 (Hartford, CT) – The Connecticut Laborers' District Council Business Manager Charles LeConche called today for union players in Major Baseball League, National Football League, National Hockey League and National Basketball Association to boycott all events and activities held by sports cable network ESPN during the Labor Day holiday weekend. In a letter to various league union offices, Leconche wrote, "This appeal for union solidarity comes on our day – Labor Day. During these difficult economic times, employers continue to exploit workers. ESPN voluntarily has chosen a construction contractor to build its new digital studio that undermines area standards and avoids paying its workers a living wage," explained LeConche. "We encourage you to join us in solidarity as we stand strong with one voice and let ESPN know that enough is enough. Our workers and their families cannot be pushed aside." According to news reports in August 2011, Connecticut Governor Malloy announced that the state will invest more than $25 million in ESPN's plans to develop the new digital center on its main campus in Bristol, CT. The investment will allow for a wide array of assistance, which can include tax credits, low-interest loans, technical consulting or employee education and skill upgrades. ESPN announced it would spend $100 million to build the 193,000-square-foot facility that would be located adjacent to an existing digital center and would mark the 19th building on its campus. It will house four studios, six production control rooms and 26 edit rooms on four levels, dedicated to a variety of U.S. and international studio programming. The new center also will become the new home for ESPN's flagship program, SportsCenter. For more information, visit www.espn.com. The Connecticut Laborers' District Council represents approximately 7,500 members employed in the construction industry, public sector and other building and trade fields throughout the state. The Laborers' International Union of North America, founded in 1903 largely by immigrant workers, includes more than 800,000 members who work in construction and hazardous materials remediation, as well as in healthcare, the U.S. Postal Service and other public service sectors of the economy. For more information, call 860.296.8697 or visit www.CTLPL.com. # # To arrange an interview with Charles LeConche from the Connecticut Laborers' about this news story or any related labor or political issues, contact Ron Dresner at ron@dennispr.com or call 860.523.7500.