Bowing to public pressure, Manhattan Community Board 10 has decided to reschedule a planned job recruitment offering residents construction jobs. The public outrage stems from the fact that this recruitment specifically sites that the jobs are "Non-Union".

After the above flyer was posted on the CB10 Facebook Page, negative public sentiment soon followed. On the post, members of the public voiced their concern with statements like:

“CB10 should be promoting pathways to careers through UNION APPRENTICESHIP, rather than underpaid temporary positions like this. “

“Does the Community Board know that these jobs especially for the woman are not a pathway to jobs in the middle class. The women on non-union jobs will most likely be flaggers and will not be able to learn a trade and thus garner a good paying job and career and have healthcare and security for the future!!”

Yesterday, emails were sent out to the recruitment participants stating:

“PLEASE NOTE: Tomorrow’s information session regarding the 600 West 125th Street construction project has been postponed.”

With public support for unions at an all time high, it's no surprise that even during a pandemic with record unemployment, the public understands the difference between a dead-end job and a career opportunity.

This development is part of an ongoing battle between Columbia University and Organized Labor. Columbia University is currently constructing new staff and student residences south of 125th St and has decided to abandon the framework from an existing Community Benefits Agreement for north of 125th St. It ensured construction workers would receive a fair wage and the same benefits Columbia Staff receive.

Instead, Columbia has ignored the achievements of this agreement and decided to utilize non-union subcontractors to save money. However, that comes with a community cost. The savings often comes from the pockets of the workers building the project as well as community members when the non-union workers are shuttled in from areas up to 50 miles away in some instances, therefore eliminating a local economic benefit from construction. Previous development following the CBA resulted in good wages, benefits, and a sizeable portion of the construction workers lived in northern Manhattan. Now Columbia want's to undo all the progress.

Interviews from workers who were demolishing the old structures at 600 West 125th Street (on the south side) has revealed workers are lucky to make minimum wage. One worker who did not want to share his name informed us he was making under minimum wage until he "got his papers". Then they gave him a raise to $15 per hour with no benefits at all.

Shame on L&L Holdings, Cushman Wakefield, and Mastercard for allowing Topline Drywall to build new offices for Mastercard and not pay its carpenters the area standard wages and benefits at 150 5th Avenue in Manhattan!

The RAT is a contractor that DOES NOT PAY ALL ITS EMPLOYEES THE AREA STANDARD WAGES, including either providing or making payments for family health care and pension benefits. Cushman Wakefield has hired Topline Drywall to perform their carpentry work.

Shame on Cushman Wakefield and Topline Drywall for contributing to the erosion of area standards for New York City Carpenters.

The New York City District Council of Carpenters believes that Cushman Wakefield and Topline Drywall have an obligation to the community to see that area labor standards are met for construction work performed on any of their projects. They should not be allowed to insulate themselves behind “independent" contractors.

PLEASE CONTACT:
Cushman Wakefield: Richard Jantz (347) 486-4955
Mastercard: TWEET @AskMasterCard or CALL (800) 627-8372
L&L Holdings: William Potts (212) 920-3378
Topline Drywall: Toplinedrywall.com

Please tell them that you want them to do all they can to change this situation and see that AREA LABOR STANDARDS are met on all their projects.

Shame on Brooksville Company & The Steam Expert for utilizing Power Plant Services which does not pay power plant workers the area standard wage and benefits at the Spring Creek Power House! Corporate Greed must stop!

Shame on Lululemon & STEADFAST Development for hiring McCormack Contracting, Inc. which does not pay its construction workers the area standard wages & benefits. Lululemon is famous for selling luxury $100 yoga pants yet thinks its ok to hire companies which don’t offer health or retirement benefits to its workers. Poor safety, low wages, no benefits, tax fraud, and insurance fraud are common amongst irresponsible contractors like McCormack in New York City. Put an end to worker exploitation now!

Send a message to Lululemon on it’s various social media platforms!
Lululemon on Twitter
Lululemon on Facebook
Lululemon on Instagram
Lululemon on Youtube

Or you can give a call to those who are perfectly fine with what is taking place at 592 5th Avenue
Peter Weed, Lululemon: (917) 519-8461
United Overseas Bank: (212) 382-0088
Jeremy Ezra: (212) 351-9351
Dave, Steadfast: (914) 482-0245