Building Trades to pressure City Council for worker safety measure in 2016

A top priority for the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York in 2016 is a bill that would require workers on buildings 10 stories or higher in New York City, public or private, to complete a Department of Labor-approved apprentice program. 

During a video interview with City & State, BCTC President Gary LaBarbera said the measure was in response to the high number of deaths on construction sites in 2015. Seventeen construction workers have been killed. LaBarbera says 14 of the deaths occured on non-union projects. 

"We fully believe and firmly believe that ... the lack of training, the lack of necessary safety equipment and protocals in the non-union sector has absolutely gone to the point where, in my opinion, it is to the point of criminal," he said. 

"Someone in the city has to stand up for construction workers who aren't represented," he added. "We are going to stand up. We have a lot of allies that are going to be with us on this." 

LaBarbera says the reason for the 10-story benchmark is that currently in city law projects 10 stories or above are required to have a site safety manager.  

"Obviously the New York City Department of Buildings recognizes that when you go above ten stories the propensity for severe and fatal accidents increases significantly," LaBarbera said. 

LaBarbera said he has already spoken to Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Council Speaker Melissa-Mark Viverito about the issue.