Op-Ed
wage of at least $20
per hour, open shop
workers are able
to tap into health
care programs and
retirement programs
that help them secure
their own future.
To ensure more
workers in Queens can
access the benefits of
open shop, we need our
elected officials and
community leaders to
support its expansion.
Expanding open
shop means expanding
opportunities for local
residents, which will
only happen if we
raise our voices on the
issue. We look forward
to making open shop
and local workers a
priority for Queens in
2019.
Clark Peña
Construction
Workforce Project
SUPPORTING WORKERS OF COLOR
IN QUEENS MEANS SUPPORTING
OPEN SHOP CONSTRUCTION
It does not take a
real estate developer
to notice that Queens
is in the middle of a
building boom – and
with Amazon coming
to Long Island City, the
boom is only going to
continue from here.
There has been a lot
of concern about how
this growth has and
will continue to impact
the long-term residents
in the city’s most
diverse borough.
We believe that
as these buildings
continue to go up, most
of the construction jobs
should be going to local
residents – not workers
from outside the city.
Real estate
development has
great potential to help
Queens, but only if
new opportunities
for meaningful
employment are created
for longtime residents.
But those concerns
may be premature:
As the construction
industry continues
to shift to the open
shop model, doors are
opening for Queens
residents in need of a
reliable job with good
wages and benefits.
If Queens’ officials
want that trend to
continue, its elected
officials at the city and
state levels must work
to advance open shopfriendly
policies.
Queens community
leaders have, for
many years, spoke
of the need for a
diverse construction
workforce.
Stakeholders know
the hurdle to local
hiring on construction
sites is the barriers
involved in entering the
construction industry.
Many real estate
developers across
the borough have
claimed there will be
construction jobs for
local residents.
But when those
residents apply, they are
turned away because
of lack of union status
and consequently,
lack of apprenticeship
credits or the
training necessary
to be considered for a
position.
For many workers
and their families,
attempting to receive
the necessary training
or union accreditation
on their own is just
too expensive, which
leaves thousands of
workers of color locked
out of the construction
industry entirely.
Instead of the
construction crews
of Queens’ building
boom reflecting
the diversity of the
“World’s Borough,”
most construction sites
hired workers from the
suburban tri-state area.
The shift to open shop
means more developers
and contractors are
working with safe,
quality subcontractors
who have opened up the
industry to those who
have been historically
barred from the
construction workforce
by the union trades
and apprenticeship
requirements.
The open shop model
has created a much
more racially diverse
and locally based
workforce.
Per industry data,
an overwhelming
majority of the work
being done at open
shop construction
sites in New York
City is being done by
minority workers that
actually live in Queens
and the surrounding
boroughs, which is
much more reflective
of the diversity of local
communities.
Open shop workers
receive support they
wouldn’t receive
at the entry-level
positions available
in our underserved
communities.
Open shop
contractors provide
safety and skills
training programs,
removing barriers to
entry for many men
and women to enter the
industry.
Besides making a
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