New York Construction Report staff writer
The New York City Council on Dec. 18 passed the Construction Justice Act a landmark piece of legislation aimed at raising labor standards for city-funded affordable housing projects.
Sponsored by Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, Introduction 910-B requires developers of certain city-assisted housing projects to pay construction workers a minimum combined wage and benefit package of at least $40 per hour. Under the bill’s provisions, the cash wage portion must be no less than $25 per hour.
“We have ambitious housing goals, but it must be done with dignity for the workers helping accomplish them,” said De La Rosa, who chairs the Committee on Civil Service and Labor. “Today, the Council voted to uplift these workers out of poverty.”
The act also mandates a “community hiring” goal, requiring developers to use “best faith efforts” to ensure at least 30% of the construction workforce consists of New York City residents. The bill was heavily championed by a coalition of unions, including Laborers Local 79 and 32BJ SEIU, who argued that public subsidies should not support poverty-level wages.
The legislation now moves to the mayor’s desk for signature. If enacted, the City Comptroller will be responsible for annual inflation-based adjustments to the wage floor.
