EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES.
BUILDING CAREERS.
DEMANDING JUSTICE.
Our Coalition
Construction Justice NYC is a grassroots coalition of labor unions, community-based organizations and worker advocates. We’re committed to ending the exploitation and unjust treatment of New Yorkers employed in the construction industry. We are particularly focused on improving the lives of economically disadvantaged workers including justice affected people and immigrant workers by establishing a just wage and benefit floor on subsidized affordable housing.
We’re fighting for construction justice in every community across New York City where new affordable housing will be built. A coerced labor of economically disadvantaged New Yorkers is the dirty secret of much nonunion construction. It’s why there is still a lack of just wage and benefit standards on many development projects today, including those subsidized with taxpayer dollars.
COALITION MEMBERS
New Yorkers with either criminal records or lack of work authorization are especially vulnerable to exploitative and unjust treatment on the job.These New Yorkers, who are predominantly of color, are forced to accept poverty-wages, lack of benefits, and dangerous working conditions. On affordable housing developments, this coerced labor of economically disadvantaged workers is subsidized with taxpayer money.
The Construction Justice Act (CJA) creates workforce development opportunities for the most vulnerable construction workers in New York City. CJA establishes community hire goals and a just wage and benefit floor on subsidized affordable housing. CJA is designed so that no worker is excluded from its benefits, regardless of their incarceration histories, immigration status or gender.
Jamal’s Story
- Sets ambitious community hire goals for those most impacted by low wage construction work including economically disadvantaged communities, justice-affected people, and women.
- Raises worker wages by setting a just wage on subsidized housing.
- Ensures essential, employer-paid benefits are a standard practice on publicly financed housing.
Across New York City, affordable housing must be built in far greater quantities and as quickly as possible. Public funds and other forms of government subsidies are necessary to get this new affordable housing built. All too often, low-road contractors prey on economically disadvantaged workers to maximize their profits. Formerly incarcerated construction workers must “show evidence of gainful employment” as a condition of their parole. Undocumented construction workers risk detention and deportation if their lack of legal status is revealed, and they typically have no access to benefits like unemployment and health insurance.
Lack of wage and benefit standards in subsidized development contributes to the devaluation of economically disadvantaged workers, effectively depleting wealth from these communities.
worker stories
Gustavo’s story
Martin’s Story
Jose’s Story
WE DEMAND CONSTRUCTION JUSTICE!
End The Exploitation Subsidy #ConstructionJusticeNYC
Across our City real construction career opportunities have been taken away from our communities so that irresponsible affordable housing developers and contractors can increase their profits! #ConstructionJusticeNYC means the end to low-wage, short term jobs. Our communities demand a just wage and benefit package of at least $40 per hour for workers on subsidized construction projects. Real local hire will create careers that build generational wealth for the neighborhoods that need it most. Sign this petition to help end the exploitation of NYC construction workers and support #ConstructionJusticeNYC.
SIGN THE PETITION TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION JUSTICE ACT!
I struggled working on affordable housing projects, I was afraid to lose my job and had no healthcare…workers on these projects deserve just wages & benefits.
Gilfredo Valentin,
Former Affordable Housing Laborer