About a half-dozen picketers drew attention outside the Palm Beach Biltmore Friday morning, handing out fliers accusing a local air conditioning company of lack of respect for union workers.

The one-sheet handout was distributed by members of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 630. It stated John C. Cassidy Air Conditioning Inc. walked away from its contract with the local, taking away "quality union benefits from its workers."

It also claims the company has no respect for collective bargaining or union workers. In bold lettering, the flier accuses the company of being a "bad corporate citizen."

Not so, responded John Cassidy Jr., president since 1987 of the company founded by his late father in the 1960s.

"My dad was a union contractor," Cassidy said.

Cassidy said his contract with the union expired June 30. The two parties were unable to come to terms on a new agreement.

"We needed some things changed in the contract. They wouldn't give me what I needed to be able to sign their contract," he said without going into specifics.

"We have all respect for the union," Cassidy said. "We have union guys who work for us."

The company is not involved in the renovation under way at the historic Biltmore building at 150 Bradley Place, he said. The company does regular maintenance at about 30 apartments in the building, and the picketers tend to follow his company's trucks around to various work sites to stage their protests.

Cassidy said he does not let the accusations in the fliers bother him, and that the family business has a longstanding, good reputation in the community.

Cassidy also said he remains open to talking to the union's representatives.

The union local's organizer, Mark Woodard, was outside the Biltmore Friday morning with a handful of union workers from 8 to 11 a.m.

He said John C. Cassidy Air Conditioning Inc. has signed the contract since the 1980s.

According to Woodard, the company now does not want to participate in pensions and health-care benefits, which will leave some of the union mechanics still working for Cassidy in the lurch. He said workers who stay with Cassidy are doing so because of general fear and uncertainty during the current economic slump.

Woodard said he and others will continue "ambulatory picketing," following Cassidy trucks to areas where the union members can easily and legally park and hand out the leaflets.

Palm Beach police spokeswoman Janet Kinsella said the department received a call Friday morning from the Biltmore's security staff about the protestors passing out fliers on the street.

She said a police captain went to the building to remind them they are not allowed to obstruct sidewalk or street traffic.

Woodard said picketers distributed 225 fliers on Bradley Place Thursday and an additional 300 Friday. He said they intend to return and plan to make their presence known at Palm Beach Towers Condominium at 44 Cocoanut Row, where Cassidy also does work.

Woodard also said the union is willing to talk with Cassidy about contract terms.