'Treated like thieves': Astaldi manager gives emotional testimony at inquiry

Taking the stand at the Muskrat Falls inquiry Thursday, an Astaldi executive described his experienceas the Italian company struggled to complete a project that wasbillions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule.

Don Delarosbilwas project manager for Astaldi at the time, and said he had made personal commitments to the hundreds of workers he'd hired.

Nalcor dismissed the contractor and ordered workers off the site last fall.

"Imagine you're sitting there, and you kind of give it all you got," a tearful Delarosbiltestified, recalling his attemptto persuade Nalcor executives to change their minds.

"Then you have to tell 600 people they don't have a job tomorrow."

The inquiry commission's co-counsel,Barry Learmouth, askedDelarosbil to read aloud an emailto Nalcorofficials from Oct. 25, 2018.

"All of us have made personal sacrifices to build Muskrat Falls,"Delarosbilread."All of us are proud of what we've accomplished and want a chance to finish what we started. Please do the right thing and set up a meeting of decision makers immediately to develop a best-for-all approach to completing the work."

That email never received a response, he said.

Axing the$1.1-billioncontract to build the powerhouse and other concrete structures five years after it was signed was "kind of cruel, from my point ofview," he told the commission.

"You have to call [workers] at home, say their job is not there anymore ...[they]have a couple days to get off the site. You're treated like thieves, almost."

Delarosbil said many of the workers had been seeking other jobs before Nalcorpulled the contract. With less than a year left, he testified they knewtheir time with Astaldi was drawing to a close.

"Iwas convincing them to stay until the end and complete what they started," he said. "I was guaranteeing them employment until the end of the job."

Nalcor relationship wilted

On Wednesday, another Astaldi executive described a relationship with Nalcor that was fraught with delays as he was pressed on why the company would sign a contract knowing it contained completion targets they couldn't reach.

As the delays snowballed and the relationship with Nalcor deteriorated, Astaldi began demanding more money from the Crown corporation.

A short while later, Nalcor issued a stop-work order and brought in Pennecon to finish the job.

"What can Itell you? First time in my life, I've never been through this. Never happened to me," Delarosbil said, still in distress during questioning.

"I apologize if it's emotional, but it is."

The inquiry continues Friday in St. John's.

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