NYC Commits to Building $7B in City Projects with Union Labor Under New PLAs

Two newly announced Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) with the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and Vicinity (BCTC) will create more job opportunities and ensure fair wages and benefits for members of the New York building trades unions, including thousands of BAC brothers and sisters.

The agreements, covering more than $7 billion in city projects, will include new construction, renovation, and rehabilitation of city-owned buildings and structures, ranging from schools to water treatment facilities and libraries. Through community hiring requirements, they will help connect more underserved New Yorkers to good-paying union careers and quality union apprenticeship training programs.

Jack Argila, President of BAC Local 1 New York, said that these PLAs not only create decent jobs for skilled building trades workers, providing them with fair wages and good benefits, but also ensure that projects are completed safely, on schedule and within budget. “Local 1 New York has publicly stood with the BCTC and city officials to support the new PLAs,” Argila said. “The agreements reflect our strong partnership with the city and our dedication to building stronger working families and communities together.”

The agreements will also expand access to union apprenticeship programs through community hiring requirements. A new memorandum of understanding between the city, BCTC and the Building Trades Employers’ Association will support the recruitment of 700 pre-apprenticeship candidates from low-income communities. 

“Our apprentices in tile, marble, and terrazzo have a path to a stable career, health insurance, pension, and competitive wages without college debt,” William Hill, President of BAC Local 7 New York/New Jersey, said. “Additional apprenticeship opportunities provided by these agreements will ensure a pipeline of highly trained skilled workforce for the future through our union apprenticeship and training programs.”

IU Secretary-Treasurer Jerry Sullivan, a New York City native and former President of Local 1, welcomed the City's dedication to fair contracting and apprenticeship. "It's exciting to see the City commit to over $7 billion of tangible investment in our neighborhoods, but just as important is the recognition that partnering with union labor is the best way to get this vital work done. Members of Locals 1 and 7 - in all of our crafts - will benefit greatly from these PLAs, and New Yorkers across the city will in turn benefit from the skill and efficiency that we bring to the projects covered under the agreements. Moreover, we look forward to welcoming new apprentices and pre-apprentices from NYCHA communities, so that they can help build and renovate their city and join us as the best hands in New York."