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Unions Unite Against Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club

Protests have reportedly become racially charged.

Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club in New York City is undergoing a facelift and angering union workers in the process.

 

Named after an elite club of baseball players who have hit 40 home runs and stolen 40 bases in a single season, 40/40 first opened its Manhattan flagship location in 2003. Jay-Z is one-third owner of the sportsclub franchise.

 

Known for his exclusivity, the hip-hop mogul is being targeted by union workers who have not been hired to work on the site’s reconstruction, TMZ reports. Next to huge blow-up rats sitting outside of the club, there’s also a sign that reads: “Shame on the 40/40 Club (Jay-Z) for Hurting New York City.”

 

A rep for the club has responded, saying that the building is "non-union" and, therefore, the protests are unwarranted. This hasn’t stopped the rallying of protestors, which is said to have escalated to racial slurs being hurled at the current workers. While the local unions argue that the workers do not meet labor standards, the club’s rep says racial intimidation is a “poor tactic” when trying to change someone’s mind.

 

40/40 is set to reopen November 1.

(Photo: BARRY SWEET/Landov)

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