New York

New York Construction News is reporting that in an effort to stimulate the construction industry and create work opportunities for local contractors and construction workers, some of New Jersey’s construction unions along with their managerial bargaining partners have agreed to a freeze in wage and benefit packages. … Read More

Average earnings for all New York City construction workers dropped an estimated 7% to $63,300 in 2009. That was down from $68,800 in 2008.

New York City’s construction industry generated only 106,500 jobs in January 2010, its worst showing in nearly five years, according to employment data analyzed by the New York Building Congress and released on Thursday.

Construction employment typically dips during the winter months but this year’s dismal showing reflects the moribund state of the industry, as well as the traditional seasonal drop off. There are more than 500 stalled construction projects in the five boroughs, according to the city’s Department of Buildings. That’s clearly weighing on employment. January’s figures fell 12% from the year-ago period and 16% from January 2008.
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It has been reported by Labor Notes that East Coast Laborers have joined with worker centers to create two new locals of mostly immigrant members, promising a union presence in residential construction. The new locals will accept lower wage rates and erase craft boundaries.

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Access New York City’s groundbreaking Project Labor Agreement here.

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According to the New York Times, Gov. David A. Patterson and the state’s public employee unions announced an agreement on Friday that would reduce pension benefits for future public employees and save the state billions of dollars in an attempt to control ballooning costs for retirees.

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At the behest of owners and developers facing rapidly rising project costs, contractors and unions in New York City came together on a project labor agreement (PLA) that is expected to significantly increase productivity and reduce costs.

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According to the New York Times, construction unions and builders are edging closer to an agreement that they say will reduce labor costs. Some construction managers and union officials involved in the negotiations say that the pending agreement on work rules, wages and benefits would cut labor costs by 15 to 20% in this weak economy.

“This year is not too bad,” said one union official who insisted on anonymity because he was not supposed to discuss the talks. “But 2010 is looking like we’re going off the ledge.”

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This article was originally published by the Bureau of National Affairs on 12/31/08.

According to the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), construction unions in New York City in December 2008 were in discussions with contractors to consider the launch of a broad, one-year pilot project labor agreement to respond to the pressures brought by a weak economy. Faced with at least $5 billion worth of cancelled or stalled projects, New York contractors are seeking a 25 % reduction in labor costs.

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AT&T Inc., the largest employer of union labor in the country, is renegotiating contracts that cover 112,500 workers and is looking to reduce health care costs.
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