Protecting Construction Workers

THE ISSUE: A City Council bill that would exempt union workers from required safety training.

The Post’s recent editorial, “A Union Giveaway” (Sept. 20), is insulting and disgraceful. How could the editors ignore the construction-fatality epidemic and not mention why the City Council introduced Intro 1447 in the first place?

The Post clearly can’t see the forest for the trees: Intro 1447 will help save lives.

Organized labor isn’t down to just 2 percent of local new-building-construction jobs. Unions represent over 100,000 construction workers. In fact, respected economist James Parrott also recently affirmed that union projects account for two-thirds or greater of overall construction spending. The Post’s math just doesn’t add up.

In addition, the 40-55 hours of safety training proposed in Intro 1447 would be a vast improvement in an industry in which many non-union workers receive absolutely no training whatsoever.

By contrast, union construction workers receive hundreds of hours of training. So it makes absolute common sense to credit those workers who have already been trained.

This bill has gone through a thorough, ninemonth process to rightfully address this epidemic.

We strongly urge the City Council to pass Intro 1447 and look forward to working with the city to ensure the safety of all construction workers and the public alike.

Gary LaBarbera

Building & Construction Trades Council President Manhattan