Members of local labor unions protested Thursday at the site of a Harrison County pipeline project. Many of them said they are upset because out-of-town workers have been hired to work on the pipeline.

"We have a lot of members laid off that's looking out their back windows, looking at all these out-of-state workers taking our jobs. In the meantime, they're in the house juggling which bill to pay," said labor union manager Clint Powell.

Other protesters said local workers have the experience to take on the job.

"All these local unions around Harrison County all have well-trained pipeline workers that should be working today and it's just what they tell you -- what they want you to think -- that we have no trained people here, and that's certainly not true," said Carl Jones, an unemployed union worker.

Dominion East Ohio has contracted Bruce Allen, a contracting company out of Ripley, W.Va., to work on the pipeline. According to company spokesperson Tracy Oliver, "The project in Harrison County is one of many projects that we award every day through a competitive bidding process. Contracts are awarded based on the ability to perform, past performances, and the ability to meet established guidelines and standards."

Protesters said they are eager for work, and that the protest will continue until the company understands their message.

"You need to look at us first before you start bringing out-of-staters in to take our jobs away," Jones said.