By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – A group of St. Louis religious leaders wants the state of Missouri to hire low income and minority workers for the Highway 40 project.
Metropolitan Congregations United is sending a delegation of about 100 people to Jefferson City Wednesday to make that point at the Highways and Transportation Commission meeting.
MCU President, Reverend Tommy Pierson, says there are people in the St. Louis area who can do the work.
We want to end contractors and general contractors' excuse that there are not qualified workers around when in fact there are qualified workers around, Pierson said.
Workers will rebuild 12 miles of the road.
The highway project is expected to begin this fall and be completed by 2010.