Construction Unions and the Spirit of Thanksgiving: Building Strength Through Solidarity
The spirit of shared effort and shared reward is what defines both Thanksgiving and unions.
Thanksgiving and New York City construction unions. Bet you never thought you’d see those two thoughts put together. But the fact is they share a lot of very important qualities, which we choose to honor this holiday season because overcoming divisiveness has never been more important.
Thanksgiving is about uniting in a spirit of gratitude, cooperation, and shared prosperity. The first thanksgiving feast was a harvest celebration attended by Pilgrims and Native Americans called the Wampanoags in 1621. It has since evolved into an annual reminder of the importance of unity and appreciation for what we have and who we share it with.
The Union Bond
New York’s construction unions know all about the power of collaboration and the importance of gratitude. Working together toward a common cause, whether that goal is completing a project on time and under budget or fighting with management for fair pay and benefits, is the principle that inspires every construction union member in New York.
Anthony Smiling, a member of local union 18A, talked about the bond that exists within a union. “Yeah, we’re in this thing together. Thick and thin. We’re brothers and sisters,” he said. “I probably spend more time with these guys than I do with my own family. And that’s what we became. Family. It’s solid.”
This strong personal bond is one trait that’s been cited as a reason union crews are more efficient, productive, and safer than non-union construction teams. Mr. Smiling explained, “We know each other so well, from job sites and training and that stuff. We definitely look out for each other. There’s a lot of opportunity for some dangerous stuff to happen on these jobs. But I have their backs like I know they have mine.”
Like those Pilgrims and the Wampanoags, the sharing of skillsets and effort has paid off for New York’s various building trades. Shared commitment, shared benefit.
Collaborative Efficiency
It's this camaraderie and mutual respect for safety and craft that allows New York union cement and iron workers to complete the construction of a new floor on a building every two days. It’s called the two-day cycle and it requires intense collaboration, skill, and trust.
Like those early Pilgrims and the Wampanoags, the sharing of skillsets and effort has paid off for New York’s various building trades. The cement workers, iron workers, laborers, engineers, electricians, and carpenters all share in the enormous effort to construct a high rise, and in the mutual benefits of fair pay and benefits that come to their members. Shared commitment, shared benefit.
Gratitude
And for all their productivity, craftsmanship, and the great example they set for all working people, we New Yorkers are thankful for the construction unions who have built our city. We appreciate union commitment to excellence and fairness, to diversity and strength. On this Thanksgiving, following some very tough years for all of us, we thank our unions for their diligence.
More Than Just Talk
We’ll end this holiday ode to unions with two more impressions you probably never expected to see put side-by-side. On Thanksgiving, President John F. Kennedy said, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." Union man Anthony Smiling said, “I appreciate my union brothers and sisters because they don’t just talk the talk about support and safety and all that. They walk the walk. You know what I mean? That’s what makes all the difference.”
Thank you, New York unions.
How Are We Doing?
We need to know if we're changing the way you think about New York City construction.