NYS Building & Construction Trades Council
NYS Building & Construction Trades Council - 890 Third Street, Albany, NY 12206 (518) 435-9108
Email: nybuildingtrades@me.com
Protecting the rights of New York's construction workforce...
Established in 1958, the NYS Building & Construction Trades Council currently represents over 220,000 unionized construction workers in New York State.
Our 16 local building trades council, 12 district councils and state associations and 135 local unions represent the trades that build our roads, bridges, schools and office buildings. Believing that every worker deserves a fair wage and safe working conditions, our mission is to protect and further these basic privileges.
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News from the Building & Construction Trades Department
A view of what we do:
NYS DOL Joint Employment Task Force on the Misclassification of Workers
Contractors who wish to register with FEMA through the Central Contractor Registry can follow this link.
Contractors interested in recovery work in the New York City Area should register here.
HURRICANE RELIEF AVAILABLE
TOURO LAW CENTER has set up a program to assist hurricane victims with their legal concerns.
From the Law Center's website:
Individuals can call our "HEART Line" at (631) 761-7198 or email tlcheart@tourolaw.edu to receive assistance from disaster relief-trained students and attorneys, including our alumni, who will match individual concerns with referrals to federal, state and local government agencies and private groups offering storm-related assistance. Volunteer attorneys are on hand to provide legal assistance as well. The telephone hotline will be answered live Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Voicemail messages can be left 24/7. You can learn more about the center by visiting www.tourolaw.edu/tlcheart.
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Below: members of the Greater Capital Region Building Trades protest at the site of the future Honest Weight Food Co-op in Albany.
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State and Local Building & Construction Trades Councils Proud to be Part of Historic Tappan Zee Bridge Project
June 19, 2012, Albany, NY – The New York State Building & Construction Trades Council, the Rockland County Building & Construction Trades Council, and the Westchester Building & Construction Trades Council are proud to be a part of the historic project labor agreement reached Monday between the State of New York and organized labor, ensuring that a new Tappan Zee Bridge will be constructed on time with skilled, local labor. The agreement, between the New York State Thruway Authority, the State Building Trades Council, the Rockland and Westchester Building Trades Councils, and 26 local unions from 14 different trades, will save New York’s taxpayers an estimated $452 million.
“Governor Cuomo’s leadership and vision have been instrumental in reaching this agreement,” James Cahill, President of the NYS Building & Construction Trades Council, said. “We are excited to play a role in rebuilding the state’s infrastructure, and we applaud the Governor and the Thruway Authority for acknowledging the inherent value that this project labor agreement provides to the taxpayers.”
Cahill also remarked, “This agreement is really extraordinary in light of the fact that repairs made to the Tappan Zee in the 1990s were executed under the State’s first public project labor agreement.” Cahill is referring to the 1994 Project Labor Agreement (PLA) entered into between the trades and the Thruway Authority in 1994. Since that time, PLAs have played an increasingly important role in public and private construction in New York State. Public and private owners have increasingly turned to PLAs to ensure that projects would be completed on time, within budget, and with a skilled, local workforce.
John Maraia, President of the Rockland County Building Trades Council said, "The agreement reached between the Building Trades and the state to replace the aging Tappan Zee Bridge will create thousands of good jobs for New York’s tradesmen and women at a time when they are desperately needed.” The project will create thousands of construction jobs, and the PLA will guarantee a steady supply of skilled workers.
Ed Doyle, President of the Westchester Building Trades Council said, "I want to express our gratitude to Governor Andrew Cuomo for supporting the working men and women of the lower Hudson Valley by approving a Project Labor Agreement for construction of a new Tappan Zee Bridge. His leadership will provide employment opportunities for thousands of skilled construction workers. Without the Governor's leadership and support for this important project, it is unlikely that the citizens of the great State of New York would have been able to benefit from this important transportation development."
May 16, 2012, Albany, NY – Edward J. Malloy, former President of the New York State Building & Construction Trades Council passed away yesterday.
James Cahill, who replaced Ed as President of the State Building Trades in February, said, “It is with deep sadness that I announce Ed’s passing. Working men and women have lost a friend today. A friend who stood with them in their fight for better wages and a safer workplace. A friend who threw open the door of opportunity to forgotten kids in New York City. And a friend to all of us.”
More important than his role as a labor leader, Ed was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He cherished his many friends and colleagues.
Mr. Malloy served as President of the New York State Building & Construction Trades Council from 1992 until February 2012. Ed’s leadership and vision had a profound effect on New York’s construction industry, and his wit and professionalism allowed him to seamlessly navigate the halls of government and businesses. Above all else, Ed believed in and worked tirelessly for unity and solidarity. We will join arms in that solidarity not only to mourn the death of this great leader but to celebrate his life.
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Statement by Governor Andrew Cuomo:
“Today we mourn the passing of Ed Malloy, who for decades stood up for the working men and women of New York and helped build the state into the great place it is today.”
“For the years that Ed served as president of the New York City and New York State Building and Construction Trades councils representing over 200,000 union members, he worked tirelessly with public officials, investors, and labor leaders to get major infrastructure projects off the ground and create jobs in every corner of the state.”
“Ed pioneered the Project Pathways agreement and Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills that changed the face of the construction industry and opened the door for more than a thousand young, diverse New Yorkers to launch successful careers in the building trades. He was an early partner in forging the public-private partnerships that have helped pave the way toward building a new Tappan Zee Bridge.
“Above all else, Ed was a gentleman and a true New Yorker: putting the interests of others and service to his country and community above all else, including serving in armed forces and in numerous roles in public life. I send my condolences to his friends and family.”
Statement by Senator Charles Schumer:
“Ed Malloy was New York to his very bones; a child of New York City and the Catholic schools who was an Army vet and a steamfitter, he rose to lead the proud workers of the building trades for two decades.”
“Eddie was pure class, a guy who knew, from instinct and intellect, how to navigate both sides of every street – public and private, labor and management. From Project Pathways, to rebuilding after 9-11, to thousands of PLA’s, he used his charm and toughness and skill to improve the lives of countless working people and their families, and in the process was a partner in the building and rebuilding of the greatest city on the face of the earth.”
“Today, the very angels in heaven got a new business manager who will find a way to make even their existence more than a little bit better. RIP, Eddie.”Statement by NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento
“Ed Malloy dedicated his life to improving the lives of working men and women throughout the State of New York. Ed was an innovator who thought outside the box and had the rare ability to bring people together from different points of view to create jobs, improve working conditions, and foster positive change.”
“No fight was too big, no issue was too small to get Ed’s personal attention when it came to protecting workers. The thoughts and prayers of our affiliates and members are with Ed’s loved ones on this sad day.”
Statement by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy
“Ed Malloy’s legacy is all around us – in our skyscrapers, and on our roads, and in our homes. He led the way for tens of thousands of New Yorkers as they pursued the American Dream, and opened doors for many women and people of color. He worked well with the business community and was at the center of the building of New York. I can’t forget seeing him down in Washington DC in his bright shirts and matching ties – only a true Irishman with a twinkle in his eye could get away with it. Ed was a true patriot and friend to all of us; my thoughts and prayers are with his family, and I join the countless brothers and sisters of the greater labor family in honoring his contributions.”
State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos:
"It was with sadness that I learned today of the passing of Ed Malloy, the former President of the New York City and New York State Building and Construction Trade Councils. As a State Senator and Majority Leader, I had the privilege of knowing and working with Ed, and found him to be a consummate professional and a good friend. His passionate advocacy for the working men and women of New York was evident to all. Ed Malloy was instrumental in many of the great things we’ve accomplished here in New York, and he will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Statement by Gary LaBarbera, President of Building & Construction Trades of Greater New York
The Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, its local affiliates of 15 national and international unions and their 100,000 members join in mourning the passing of Edward J. Malloy. He was a true icon within our industry not only in New York City, but throughout the United States. His leadership will be truly missed.
Mr. Malloy served as president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York from 1992-2008 and as president of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council from 1992 until his retirement earlier this year. Prior to his service in these capacities, Mr. Malloy served as president of the Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local Union 638, where he began as an apprentice, rose to journeyman and was a longtime member. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Mr. Malloy was a driving force for private economic development and public infrastructure improvements throughout the city and state. He was instrumental in promoting measures to contain construction costs and maximize employment opportunities for union members. His signature achievement in this regard is the advancement of project labor agreements for major public works projects, which are now widely used to deliver construction in a cost-efficient and timely manner.
In 1994, Mr. Malloy led efforts to negotiate a PLA with the New York State Thruway Authority for $130 million of repairs to the Tappan Zee Bridge. This PLA was the first of its kind on a major public works project in New York and saved taxpayers millions of dollars. Nonunion contractors sued to block the use of this PLA, but were unsuccessful, with the New York State Court of Appeals issuing a landmark decision affirming the legality of PLAs on public works projects that promote the fiscal interests of taxpayers and maintain competition.
In 2004, Mr. Malloy led efforts to negotiate the first PLA for major public works projects in New York City with the School Construction Authority. This PLA covered billions of dollars of renovations to public school buildings from fiscal years 2005-2009 and was determined to have saved taxpayers more than $221 million. It served as the forerunner to expanded PLAs that were negotiated in 2009 with the City of New York and the School Construction Authority that are currently in effect and saving taxpayers more than $300 million from fiscal years 2010-2014.
Mr. Malloy was also a strong supporter of promoting opportunity and diversity to have the unionized construction industry’s work force reflect the demographics of New York City’s communities. He helped launch programs to provide access to careers in the building and construction trades for youth, veterans of the U.S. Armed Services, minorities and women. The results of these efforts are evident today, with the majority of union apprentices and workers in New York City’s construction industry being African American, Hispanic, Asian and other minorities.
In 1992, Mr. Malloy led efforts to create Project Pathways with the City of New York and the School Construction Authority which were later joined by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This innovative program expanded access for graduates of public high schools in New York City to unionized apprenticeships in the construction industry from 1993-2000. Hundreds of African American, Hispanic, Asian and other minority youth of the city gained access to careers in the unionized construction industry through this program.
In 2001, Project Pathways, which had been administered by the School Construction Authority, was transferred to a private not-for-profit corporation named Construction Skills 2000, which has since been renamed The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills in honor of Mr. Malloy’s role in its founding. Construction Skills has proudly placed more than 1,300 youth, public housing residents and other city residents into unionized apprenticeships, 89 percent of whom are African American, Hispanic, Asian and other minorities.
Edward J. Malloy was respected by all who knew him as not only a tireless advocate for working men and women, but an advocate for our great city and state. His hard work and wit allowed him to pass easily from union halls to business board rooms and the chambers of government.
This dedication and personality served members of organized labor well for decades as he worked to promote job creation, economic development and fairness. His contributions are immeasurable and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for them. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family on behalf of an entire industry.
