When friends spout the same old tropes denigrating unions, like they're bankrupting industry, push back with the facts. If you want unions, defend them.
If you have been following our stories on UnionBuiltMatters.org for the past few years, you’ve learned about the practices of so many non-union contractors who have flourished in today’s booming construction market by skirting the law. You’ve seen our stories about preventable worker injuries and fatalities. You’ve read about non-union contractors caught in bidding scams, caught stealing from workers, caught deceiving inspectors. You’ve learned here about their failed and stalled projects that dot our city.
And on the opposite side, you’ve also learned about the great good that construction unions have done for the people of New York. You’ve seen how unions lift people into the middle class, how they promote craftsmanship, safety, fair pay, collaboration, and mutual respect. And the results of this work are some of the most iconic structures gracing our great city.
And now you agree with us that too many unscrupulous non-union contractors who chase profits over safety pose a real threat to New York. You want unions to build our city. But you’re just a citizen here. You’re not a real estate mogul, or a city councilmember, or even an influential blogger. You want change but you don’t know what you can do to make it happen.
We’re here to help with that. Here are 7 meaningful ways New Yorkers can support construction unions and advocate for fair and safe labor practices in NYC's construction industry:
1. Choose Union Contractors and Developers
If you own an apartment or condo here, and you’re planning to have work done on it, seek out union contractors to do it. And understand that a low-ball price from a non-union guy usually means your job will be done with unskilled labor, cheaper materials, and likely become a bigger headache down the road.
2. Engage with New York Legislators
Encourage city councilmembers, state reps and senators to support pro-union policies and labor protections that promote safety standards, fair wages, and benefits for unionized construction workers. And push them to pressure developers to hire union contractors. All legislators maintain websites and have office phone numbers available online. Email, call, write them and tell them you want unions to build our city. It’s good for New York!
Support the municipal projects that most often completed by union labor, such as affordable housing and infrastructure upgrades.
3. Advocate for Union Projects
Support initiatives that use union labor, such as affordable housing developments, infrastructure upgrades, and public works projects. Union projects are done more safely and they provide workers with better pay, healthcare benefits, and other protections. Non-union bosses, on the other hand, often do not provide those benefits to workers. And the resulting social cost for supporting impoverished, uninsured people when they need help falls on the public, which means you. Do you want to pay to enrich unscrupulous union bosses? Didn’t think so. Meanwhile, you do want more affordable housing, infrastructure upgrades and improved public works.
4. Push Back on the Same old BS About Unions
When you hear someone say something like, “Well, union labor is more expensive than non-union labor. Can you blame developers for wanting to save a buck?” Tell them that there have been at least 3 new deep research works comparing the real costs of projects on which unions have been hired vs those where non-union has been hired. One of these studies looked at over 20 years of construction projects. They all reached the same conclusion. In the end unions are more affordable than non-union because they do the work more efficiently, with fewer violations and stoppages, and with much less staff turnover. The affordability canard is just one anti-union trope. Don’t accept any of them.
Keep an ear out for upcoming marches and protests. Show up, be vocal.
5. Attend Rallies and Protests
Rally size matters. When more people show up for union rallies, protests, and community events organized by construction unions it sends a loud message to our civic leaders and the media — we expect them to work in solidarity with labor and to fight for workers’ rights.
Let’s keep fighting to help make New York City a place we can all be proud of. That means supporting the unions. It’s easy.
6. Push for Increased Safety Standards
Construction is a dangerous profession and non-union contractors often skirt the safety rules to save money. This practice puts workers in harm’s way though the people who get to keep that saved money are not the workers, it’s the business owners. Support legislation and initiatives that mandate stringent safety standards on construction sites, which unions follow rigorously.
7. Vote with Labor Issues in Mind
Research candidates’ stances on labor rights and union support. Voting for leaders who champion fair pay, safe workplaces, and high-quality work, who argue on behalf of all working-class people, will help bring new opportunity to New Yorkers. Vote for the right candidates.
Let’s encourage the growth of the middle class here. Let’s argue for housing projects that put unions to work and that union members can afford to live in when the work is done. Let’s honor the tenet of fair pay for fair work and recognize that every worker deserves a safe workplace. Let’s admit that we want the best trained, most experienced work crews building our city.
Let’s keep fighting to help make New York City a place we can all be proud of. That means supporting the unions. It’s easy.
How Are We Doing?
We need to know if we're changing the way you think about New York City construction.