Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, Building Trades Employers’ Association and The Real Estate Board of New York Reach Critical Agreement to Remobilize NYC Construction

Health and safety central to agreement that will remobilize the NYC construction industry; Pact advances safety protocols and provides for a reduction in worker density

As New York City prepares to reopen, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC) and the Building Trades Employers’ Association (BTEA) have reached an agreement that creates the framework necessary to remobilize New York City’s construction industry.

The remobilization plan reached by the BCTC, BTEA, and in conjunction with the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) -- which provides for both safety protocols and temporary adjustments between BCTC locals and construction managers in order to promote efficiency and safety with reduced worker density -- is framed by three guiding principles:

• The health and wellness of the construction workforce must always remain the foremost priority that informs efforts to remobilize construction in NYC.

• Remobilization must be accomplished with deliberate action that will mitigate exposure to workers and the public.

• Each construction site is unique in its size and complexity, and as such sufficient flexibility is necessary to accommodate job site characteristics, while also setting a standard that all job sites must meet.

Prior to reaching agreement on the remobilization plan, the BCTC and BTEA, along with REBNY, worked in close collaboration with the Cuomo administration to establish the health and safety protocols for construction worksites during the COVID-19 public health emergency. These protocols include requirements for PPE, social distancing, health screenings, increased washing stations, frequent cleaning and disinfection, and other various measures which can be found in more detail here.

The remobilization plan set forth by this agreement advances these health and safety protocols and applies them to all union construction sites as they begin to reopen. The plan also requires face coverings to be worn at all times on union construction sites and ensures the protocols included in the pact will be strictly implemented to protect the health and safety of workers.

Key to the remobilization plan is reducing worker density on construction sites. The agreement outlines a variety of creative measures to reduce worker density while maintaining productivity, including employing staggered start times, shift work and other alternative work schedules. Implementation of these ideas to reduce worker density will require the cooperation of the City of New York.

In addition, the agreement mandates that construction management must prepare sites to ensure compliance with the Health and Wellness Protocols developed by the BCTC, BTEA, and the state guidelines, before increasing worksite capacity. This includes identifying areas where workers will stage at the beginning of their shifts and six foot distances must be marked out; installing OSHA and CDC signage across the worksite; and establishing entrance and exit points on some sites, where reconfiguration and new exit gates might be required.

To ensure compliance with the health and wellness protocols in the remobilization plan, the BCTC and BTEA have formed an oversight committee that will closely monitor on-the-ground activity. The oversight committee, which includes REBNY, will also review any submissions by construction managers on projects that have uncertain status as to essential or non-essential designation, or projects that may have been stalled due to the pandemic.

“First and foremost, the safety of our members, and of all construction workers, must be the priority of any plan that remobilizes the construction industry,” said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “We’re confident the agreement we’ve reached in collaboration with union contractors and the real estate community meets this threshold. The Building Trades have always been leaders when it comes to worksite safety and helping New York recover in the wake of the city’s most challenging moments. This time around will be no different.”

“With New York City in the beginning stages of reopening, this agreement provides the heightened health and safety protocols necessary to begin reactivating construction sites across the city,” said Louis J. Coletti, President and CEO of the Building Trades Employers’ Association. “Real estate is the backbone of New York, and as such, creating safe worksites that allow New Yorkers to get back to work will supply the economic injection that we need.”

“The challenge ahead is to show that New York City can rebound economically in a healthy and robust manner. The agreement between BCTC and BTEA sets the stage for such a recovery,” said James Whelan, President of the Real Estate Board of New York. “Construction and large-scale infrastructure projects will be critical to creating jobs and housing and accumulating much-needed tax-revenue for the city. This remobilization plan will facilitate such projects in a healthy, swift and responsible manner.”

With over 100,000 unionized construction workers in New York City, and many thousands of other workers in a supervisory or supply-chain role, remobilizing the industry will prime New York’s economy as the state grapples with the economic fallout associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The construction industry in New York City is vital to the City’s economy. According to the New York Building Congress (NYBC), $61.5 billion worth of construction was put in place in New York City in 2019. That number was expected to grow to $65.9 billion in 2020.

With 2 million New Yorkers out of work and the economy continuing to struggle amidst the economic and health crisis, major public-infrastructure projects have been viewed as a possible stimulus to the state economy.

The remobilization plan reached by the BCTC and BTEA will ensure that shovel-ready projects can begin immediately, while maintaining a heightened level of confidence in worksite safety.

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About The Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York

The Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC) consists of local affiliates of 15 national and international unions representing 100,000 working men and women in New York City. For more information, please visit: www.nycbuildingtrades.org

About The Building Trades Employers’ Association

Established in 1903, the Building Trades Employers’ Association (BTEA) is New York’s largest Contractor Association. It represents 26 individual construction contractor associations and 1,300 construction managers, general contractors and specialty trade subcontractors. For more information about Building Trades Employers’ Association, please visit: www.bteany.com

About The Real Estate Board of New York

The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) is the City’s leading real estate trade association. Founded in 1896, REBNY represents commercial, residential, and institutional property owners, builders, managers, investors, brokers, and salespeople; banks, financial service companies, utilities, attorneys, architects, and contractors; corporations, co-partnerships, and individuals professionally interested in New York City real estate. REBNY conducts research on various civic matters including tax policy, city planning and zoning, rental conditions, land use policy, building codes, and other city, state, and federal legislation. REBNY regularly publishes market data, policy reports, and broker surveys. In addition, REBNY provides for its members: informational, technical, and technological resources; networking and charitable service opportunities; qualifying and continuing education courses; professional education programs, seminars, and designations; career-changing awards; legal advice; and a wide range of additional member benefits. For more information, please visit www.REBNY.com.