Committee on Public Works, Transportation, Labor and Parks JOINT WITH LEGISLATION
MINUTES: June 5, 2007
3:30 PM
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS, TRANSPORTATION, LABOR AND PARKS
MEMBERS: Chair: J. Alvarado; Legislators: B. Burton, K. Jenkins, J. Myers, V. Pinto, S. Swanson
COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION
MEMBERS: Chair: V. Pinto; Legislators: L. Bronz, K. Jenkins, J. Myers, C. Young
IN ATTENDANCE: CEO: B. Randolph; DPW: R. Butler; LAW: M. Gleeson; GUESTS: J. DeMaria, R. Meinking, R. Bloomer, P. McVeigh, D. Cortez, M. Bruni; BOL STAFF: B. Bochow, D. Toledo, T. Bernard, R. Pezzullo, N. Rentz, J. Granstein, K. Davis,
With a quorum present, the Committee on Public Works, Transportation, Labor & Parks was called to order at 3:42 p.m.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
PWTLP #300: Proposed Local Law requiring County contractors and subcontractors have in place, prior to entering into a construction contract, apprenticeship agreements.
Leg. Kaplowitz suggests signing out the legislation to a public hearing.
Ms. Meinking, President of Associated Builders and Contractors, states that while ABC strongly favors the idea of apprenticeships and related training, they oppose attempts to use apprenticeship requirements to limit the number of bidders on public construction projects. Additionally, many who go through craft training, receive the same training as a registered apprentice, but are not recognized by the New York State Department of Labor.
Commissioner of Public Works, Ralph Burton, describes the current apprenticeship requirement for the Committee. Under the new legislation, the qualifying price would be increased from $50,000 to $250,000, and the minimum number of employees clause would be eliminated. The Commissioner also stated that the $250,000 level would cause approximately half of the County’s building contracts to require the apprenticeship agreements.
Leg. Myers notes that while the number of apprenticeship opportunities and requirements has increased recently, the number of apprentices statewide has fallen.
Pat McVeigh of the Sheet Metal Workers’ Union, states that because of the retirement of the baby boomers, a serious shortage of workers is imminent.
Jim DeMaria of IMPW, speaks to the legal and financial difficulties of obtaining and sustaining a registered apprenticeship program. For his plumbing company, he has 5 apprentices in training, at a cost of $1,800 per student per semester.
Rick Bloomer, of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, states that the goal of the trade organizations must not be only to grow in number, but to improve safety and training for their workers.
Diana Cortez, representative from OSHA, states that there were 5,702 fatalities nationwide in 2005, of which 917 were Hispanic, 166 were between the ages of 14 and 19, 577 were African-American. In New York State, there were 239 fatalities, of which 34 were Hsipanic, 8 were young workers, and 32 were African-American. Nationwide, there were over 1,000,000 job-related injuries and illnesses, of which 83,000 cases occurred in New York. In the current fiscal year, Westchester has suffered 3 fatalities.
Ms. Meinking, President of Associated Builders and Contractors, states that in Westchester County, there are fewer than 10 firms with apprenticeship agreements (both union and non-union) and thus, the proposed legislation would require much of County construction to be performed by organizations outside of Westchester.
PWTLP: (Burton, Swanson) move the proposed local law for public hearing only. Motion passed 5-0.
Leg: (Bronz, Abinanti) move the proposed local law for public hearing only. Motion passed 5-0.
On a motion by Legislator Myers, seconded by Legislator Burton, the Committee on Public Works, Transportation, Labor, & Parks adjourned at 4:53 p.m.
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