AUGUST 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 31
UNION CONSTRUCTION DELIVERS
An Amazon truck exits the company's JFK8 distribution center in Staten Island, New York, U.S. November 25, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid./File Photo
BY KATHERIN PLOTAS
While Amazon has been planning to
build a new warehouse in Syosset for
more than a year now, it is only recently
that the company has agreed to use
unionized labor for the construction.
The facility is set to be located in an
abandoned lot, where the North Long
Island Expressway service road meets
Robbins Lane. The 200,000-squarefoot
property would be rented by
Amazon from two developers and
reconstructed into a packaging center
for the company. The area was
previously owned by the Cerro Wire
factory, which was reported to have
improperly disposed of toxic wastewater
on the premises, as well as copper
rods and cables. Should construction
of the warehouse begin, however,
Amazon would not only be creating
the warehouse but looking to clean up
any pollution with its own funds. The
project would create an estimated 550
jobs, between warehouse employees
and delivery drivers, not including
the dozens hired for the construction.
While new employment opportunities
would be more than welcome, many in
recent months have been concerned
that work at the facility would be redirected
to nonunion contractors or
laborers outside of the state. Amazon’s
commitment to using unionized labor
for these jobs has made the facility a
much more exciting opportunity.
“We are thrilled to announce that Amazon
will be using 100 percent union
labor during the construction of
their proposed ‘last mile’ warehouse
in Syosset,” Nassau County Executive
Laura Curran, Nassau IDA Chairman
Richard Kessel, and President of the
Nassau and Suffolk Building Construction
and Trades Council Matthew
Aracich said in a joint statement.
The presence of Amazon workplaces
on Long Island has been long anticipated,
but not always fully realized.
Two years ago, as Amazon was
deciding where to place its second
headquarters, the company chose
Long Island City, but Amazon backed
out following backlash from critics
over tax breaks, community impact,
and other issues.
There have already been some opponents
to the Syosset warehouse, citing
many of the same concerns that were
raised during the Long Island City
headquarters debate, mainly the
worry that Amazon is attempting to
skirt taxes. Already the company has
requested tax breaks for its Syosset
warehouse, to help pay for the remediation
efforts. Opponents argue that
Amazon does not need tax breaks at
this time, as it is the second richest
company in the world (Apple Inc. is the
richest), headed by the richest man in
the world.
But the construction phase of the
project proved a win for union labor.
In the same joint statement, Nassau
officials said, “We thank Amazon
for making a commitment to Long
Island’s skilled and experienced
union workforce, who have a proven
track record of delivering quality
work that is completed on budget and
with the highest workplace safety
standards.”
SYOSSET AMAZON FACILITY
“Amazon will be using 100 percent union labor
during the construction of their proposed ‘last mile’
warehouse in Syosset,” Nassau officials said.
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
