Workers and electeds will show support for the Utilities Prevailing Wage Bill that passed the New York Assembly and Senate last session
When: Thursday, November 21 at 3:00pm
Where: Pershing Square (42nd Street and Park Ave)
What: Rally in support of family sustaining, prevailing wage jobs at New York’s utilities facilities like Con Edison, ahead of the deadline to pass an Albany bill that would require utility companies like Con Edison to pay the building service worker prevailing wage.
Who: Con Edison’s building service workers will be joined by elected officials— including Assembly members Felix Ortiz, , Dick Gottfried, Rebecca Seawright, Dan Quart, and Nathalia Fernandez — and 32BJ union members who already make a prevailing wage in New York City.
New York, NY— With just four weeks left before the start of the new session in Albany, public utilities workers will show widespread support for the Utilities Prevailing Wage Bill that passed the New York Assembly and Senate last session. The bill would require an estimated 2,000 janitors and security officers at privately-owned utility companies, like Con Edison, are paid the prevailing wage standards already followed by most contractors in New York.
These are companies that receive monopoly status and guaranteed profits, but have refused to offer family sustaining wages and benefits in exchange for the special treatment. For years, Con–Edison has refused to reciprocate the public support it receives and has allowed its contractors to pay workers the minimum wage, with few, if any benefits. Even worse, the utility company has been hiring cleaning and security contractors, Imperial and Nelson, that cut corners at the expense of workers’ rights, in order to save money. These subcontracted workers say they have never been offered the health insurance or paid sick leave, benefits that help local workers care for themselves and their families.
A prevailing wage requirement would allow workers to pay their bills and put food on the table. Any company that relies on New Yorkers should offer good jobs that strengthen local communities. At the very least, companies like Con Edison should require its subcontractors to follow the law inside their facilities.
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With 175,000 members in twelve states and Washington, D.C., 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.