City lawmakers want to raise wages for non-union construction workers, as well as increasing home-building projects. The extremely low wages of such workers, some who make only $15/hr for back-breaking and dangerous work, are pushing these laborers out of NYC, as they can no longer afford to live there, with some staying in shelters while building “affordable” housing. Now, lawmakers are working with building trades unions as well as immigrants’ rights groups and others to effect change. Two coalitions, one led by the NYCDCC and one by Laborers Local 79, are backing City Council bills that will increase pay for construction workers at city-funded projects, and would extend to non-union laborers.
Read the full story by Duncan Freeman for The Chief-Leader, here: https://www.thechiefleader.com/stories/construction-unions-back-council-bills-that-would-bring-higher-wages-for-non-union-labor,51384
