COMMITTEE ON LABOR
MINUTES
APRIL 3, 2000
GUESTS: EDDIE DOYLE (PRESIDENT, WESTCHESTER/PUTNAM BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL) BERNIE DOYLE (PRESIDENT, LOCAL 456)
OTHERS: ETTERE, DODDS (BOL); INGRID BENT (CE OFFICE)
The meeting was called to order at 11:50 a.m.
Mr. Doyle is the President of the Westchester/Putnam Building Trades Council. He represents 40 different local construction agencies. They have been working with project labor agreements (PLA) in Westchester County for the past 6-7 years. The Building Trades Council has an agreement with Westchester and Putnam Counties that any job 5 million dollars or over must employ local union workers. The Westchester County Courthouse is currently under a PLA. Mr. Doyle stated that members of his organization are benefiting from these PLA’s and are very happy with the way they work. Under every PLA there are conditions such as a no-strike clause, joint paid holidays and time-and-a-half for overtime rather than double time. In return, they get a job that is 100% union and it saves money for both the County and the contractors. The construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge was the first public sector PLA. It was challenged all the way up to the Court of Appeals and the Building Trades Council prevailed. It is the model they use for all PLA’s. Mr. Doyle informed the Members that they have brought in every job ahead of schedule. There is also a similar agreement between Laborers, Teamsters and the Operating Engineers for any sewer work over 1 million dollars.
Mr. Doyle spoke highly of Al Restaino. Mr. Restaino works for the County Executive’s Labor Unions Management department. He monitors contractors who employ workers in Westchester to ensure that they are paying them prevailing wages and providing benefits. Mr. Doyle feels Mr. Restaino is understaffed and that he could do an even better job if he had some help. Chair Mosiello assured Mr. Doyle that this concern would be discussed when Mr. Restaino makes his presentation to this Committee on April 17th.
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Legislator Oros stated that the Special Committee on Economic Development, which he currently Chairs, had recently sent a letter to the County Attorney suggesting the County give preferential treatment to local contractors, vendors and service providers during bidding. This matter stemmed from complaints received at a recent meeting his Committee had with the Peekskill Chamber of Commerce. Mr. (Ed) Doyle feels this is often accomplished through project labor agreements. He stated that when out-of-county companies, bidding on a County jobs, realize they must hire local tradesman they often withdraw from the bidding process. Legislator Wishnie acknowledged that there could be a downside to giving preferential treatment to local contractors. If Westchester County were to adopt such a proposal, a reciprocal agreement, from other localities could limit Westchester-based contractors from obtaining contracts in those areas.
Legislator Oros also stated that Peekskill businesses claim that were not aware of the bidding process and he suggested that the County host bid workshops. Legislator Wishnie informed the Members that the County had such a process a few years ago for minority contractors. The Committee agreed that the County should perhaps extend this opportunity to whoever may be interested in attending these workshops.
Bernie Doyle
Mr. Doyle is the President of the Local #456 Teamsters. Mr. Doyle informed the Members that contractors are calling him everyday complaining about the Waste Hauler Legislation. Under the current legislation, background checks are required for all drivers. Mr. Doyle feels that is will hurt the construction industry if it is not revised to limit these background checks to just garbage truck drivers. Background checks are costly and unnecessary for an individual who has worked for a company for many years hauling asphalt.
There was a discussion on this issue. Chair Mosiello stated that Legislator Abinanti and Ross Pepe intend on meeting to discuss proposed changes to the Waste Hauler Legislation. Legislators Ryan and Oros stated that it was not their intent, as members of the Sub-Committee on Waste Haulers, for the construction industry to be affected by this particular provision. The Members agreed to look into it immediately.
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Legislator Wishnie made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:10 p.m. and was seconded by Legislator Oros.