a state that works
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A STATETHAT
WORKS
32BJs Plan for Good Jobs and a Strong Economy
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A STATETHAT WORKS Good Jobs,
Strong Economy
Good Jobs, Strong Economy | 3
A STATE THAT WORKS
Stagnating wages, an ever-growing gap between the very rich and
everybody else, and a workforce struggling to meet basic family needs
are holding our states economy back. And too often, effort s to stimulate
our economy are focused on top-down strategies that just do not work.
New York needs a new multi-faceted approach that replaces failing job
creation efforts and an overreliance on Wall Street with a comprehensive
plan to invest state resources strategically in New Yorks people, businesses
and communities. It must begin with job creation that puts financial
resources into the hands of workers, stimulating the economy from the
bottom up.
New York States elected officials and policymakers must take this
opportunity to advance a new set of priorities based on fostering the type
of economic growth that meets the needs of New Yorkers statewide. This
paper presents 32BJs policy agenda in the hopes of moving a new set of
prioritiesand a series of policiesforward thoughtfully and swiftly.
INTRODUCTION
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CREATE AND SUPPORTGOOD JOBSLeverage New York States spending
power to promote economic development
CHALLENGE
The states current approach to economic development is haphazard,
expensive and ineffective. Economic development programs have not
sustained long-term growth across the state, nor have they been adequately
targeted to support those employers and industries that can create jobs that
lift workers out of poverty and into the middle class.
SOLUTION
The state must reassess its economic development agenda and how it
awards financial incentives to businesses. More immediately:
Development Agency (IDA) reform.
Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) and to state-financed
affordable housing.
investing in training for workers to improve energy efficient building
operations and maintenance practices.
STATE SUBSIDIES MUST CREATE GOOD JOBSI have traveled all over in order to work. Millwright s work in power plants and oil
refineries and on big constr uction sites. When theres union work, it pays well and
I get health insurance, pension and other benefits.
When I heard that CVS was building a huge distr ibution center about 10 miles
from here on I-86, I thought Id get good work there, building the conveyors and
racks, setting up the r obotics. But it turned out that t he contractor was nonunion
from North Carolina, even though I know that CVS got tax breaks from New York
State and IDA money.
When I worked on the site, they provided none of the necessar y safety equipment.
I had to supply my own helmet, safety har ness, safety glasses, welding gloves and
welding leather. And only a few of the 40-50 workers on the s ite were from nearby.
The rest were brought in from out of state.
This is where I was born and raised myself. My wife is a nurse. Shes making the
mortgage payments now, about $1,000 a month. But were expecting our first chi ld
in Decemberand theres no work near here that will s upport my family. That
doesnt seem right.
-Joseph Temple
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For a detailed description of 32BJs legislative and policy goals regarding
economic development, see page 12.
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Good Jobs, Strong Economy | 54 |A State That Works
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PUBLIC MONEY, POVERTY JOBSIts really hard to make ends meet on $8.50 an hour. I have two kids, 5 and 2, and
my wife works too. But the math doesnt always add up. Every month we have to
decide what bills to pay. We cant pay them all each month. We have to make hard
choices about what to buy at the grocery store. I pay Con Ed part of my pay back for
my electricity bill; it comes to about $80 a month.
My family needs public assistance to sur vive. My children and I have Medicaid.
We also get food stamps, even though I work full-time.
We need better pay. Thats why were organizing with t he union. In order to make
progress, to win decent rais es, we have handed out fliers, weve had marches and
rallies, weve talked to politicians and gone to an annual investors meeting wit h
a priest. Weve been in the newspaper, The Daily News and El Diario. And nothing
happened. It made no difference.
Now we need a new plana new law that would make Con Ed h ire contractors that
pay just salaries. Changing the law is our last recourse.
Its hard to live in New York, but I want my kids to grow up here. There are chancesfor them to have a better life.
-Fernando Cruz
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For a detailed description of 32BJs legislative and policy goals regarding
public procurement, see page 13.
Good Jobs, Strong Economy | 76 |A State That Works
USE GOVERNMENT RESOURCESTO RAISE STANDARDSEnsure that procurement promotes
responsible state contracting
CHALLENGE
New York State spends billions of dollars each year on contracted services
without requiring vendors to meet basic standards. Many contractors,
in fact, pay their employees povert y-level wages and provide neither
health insurance nor other benefits. As a result, many contracted workers
and their families are dependent on the state for health care, housing
subsidies and other work-support programs. The procurement systemlacks transparency, making it impossible for the state to hold irresponsible
contractors accountable.
SOLUTION
The state can increase the number of good jobs in New York:
procurement practices.
employers obey all laws and respect disabled workers rights.
service prevailing wage law to include additional work performed
under contract, such as food service and work done at public utilities.
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GOING GREEN BENEFITS ALLThe green courses at 32BJs labor-management training fund have enabled me
to come up with new ideas to make my building more efficient, safer and more
comfortable for tenants. Now Im not just making repairs, Im making i mprovements.
The work I dooperations and maintenanceis key to running an energy-efficient
building. Its the little things th at add up and have the greatest effect. Weve always
been diligent about recycling. Weve sealed air leaks around the windows and doors
to cut down on heat loss, which saves oil. We have timers and sens ors on the lights
outside and were using compact fluorescent lights in the hallways.
Water saving is my pet project. Its something I can control. I dont need a special
budget for it. We fixed leaks and installed water-saving toilets, aerators on the faucets
and showerheads that use less water.
Were moving toward further changes: green cleaning products, lighter heating oil
and safer, less toxic paint.
.
This is my career. Its not just a job. The work is very rewarding. Tenants appreciate
living in a building where were making every effort to save energy and preciousresources.
-Loretta Zuk
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unFor a detailed description of 32BJs legislative and policy goals regardingtax policy, see page 13.
Good Jobs, Strong Economy | 98 |A State That Works
FAIR TAXES, GOOD JOBSEnsure an equitable tax system
that supports the creation of
affordable and market-rate housing
CHALLENGE
The state is in the midst of a financial crisis, with record-high projected
deficits. During difficult budget times, keeping the same old tax policies on
the books without reassessing their effectiveness is a missed opportunity
to bring in much-needed revenue.
SOLUTION
The state should determine whether tax policies, abatements and incentives
are encouraging the growth of good jobs and housing. Proposals that
change the levels of exemptions could generate needed revenue for New
York State, especially in tough financial times when everyone should share
the burden.
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TRAINING MATTERSI am stationed on the platform of dif ferent stations in the PATH systemthe World
Trade Center, Christopher Street, Hoboken. Im looking out for the s afety of everyone
and the property. There are so many people in the system t hat I have to have a great
sense of alertness and awareness about me all the time. It can be tense at times.
went to a five-day training course at the union building. It included what we would
experience on the platform. We were trained about how to conduct ourselves.
In mass tr ansit, people see us as their eyes. If something goes wrong, they look to us.
We have to know how to respond, and respond quickly. I look at everything. Its like
driving a caryou have to be alert and aware, scanning the environment all t he time.
If I am suspicious about something, I watch it. You never know when something is
going to happen.
I feel my responsibility very deeply because so many people are counting on me to
keep them safe.
-Terrence Kelsor
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For a detailed description of 32BJs legislative and policy goals regarding
worker protections, see page 14.
Good Jobs, Strong Economy | 1110 |A State That Works
BRING WORKING NEW YORKERSOUT OF POVERTYSet higher standards for low-wage industries
and strengthen worker supports
CHALLENGE
The most recent economic recession has taken a toll not only on the states
bottom line, but also on the millions of working families that struggle to
pay their bills and send their children to school each day.
SOLUTIONThe state can help low-income workers by getting greater numbers of New
Yorkers back to work in jobs that enable them to support t heir families and
by providing critical supports to those still out of work:
industries, such as security.
leverage employer-based coverage.
insurance system by increasing payments to workers and ensuring
that the program is fully funded.
can care for loved ones without the risk of losing their jobs.
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12 |A State That Works
Issue an executive order to codify responsible procurement practices. Only responsible contractors should be doing business with New York State.
Administrative changes should include:
XAn improved method for determining best value that includescalculating the hidden costs to t he state of low-wage employment.
XDevelopment of consistent standards and procurement practicesso that all state agencies follow the same procurement rules.
Pass legislation to reform preferred source contracts. The state must carefully
monitor contractors employing workers to ensure that they obey all laws and
respect workers rights. The state also should expand the preference under
procurement law to include responsible private sector contractors that employ
disabled workers and respect their rights as employees.
Fix New York States Section 230 building service prevailing wage law to include
additional work performed under contract, such as food service and work done at
public utilities.
Determine whether taxes and abatementssuch as the mortgage recording tax,
the real property transfer tax, the private activity bond allocation act and the co-op
and condo real property tax abatement are encouraging t he growth of good paying
jobs and market rate/affordable housing in New York.
If reforms to tax programs are made, earmark proceeds to generate needed
revenue for New York State.
32BJs NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATIVE
AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENDA
Pass Industrial Development Agency reform. This legislation will provide
needed transparency, accountability and wage standards to New Yorks Industrial
Development Agencies. In 2008, for example, Industrial Development Agencies
spent over half a billion taxpayer dollars on businesses that either failed to create
new jobs or actually cut jobs.
Assess the states current economic development programs. The governor and
economic subsidy programs to assess their effectiveness. Once completed, they
should issue recommendations on how to ensure that these programs further the
goals of supporting good jobs and revitalizing regional economies. The state has
taken a good first step in re-envisioning Empire Zones. Comprehensive reforms
must come next.
Require the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) and its subsidiaries
to provide benefits only to projects where all building service workers,
including security officers, working on the premises are paid prevailing wages
and benefits. The primary purpose of the ESDC must be to promote economic
development that creates good jobsthose that pay at least a living wage, provide
affordable, quality benefits and respect workers rights. To this end, the governor
should direct the ESDC to adopt rules requiring those receiving financial benefits
from the ESDC and/or its subsidiaries to pay building service workers the
prevailing industry wage.
Condition Housing Finance Agency assistance on an agreement to pay all
building service workers prevailing wages and benefits.Analogous to the policy
enacted through the 421-a program, the state should require recipients of HFA
financial assistance to pay building service workers the prevailing wage.
Require all buildings to be benchmarked for energy use and audited,with a
requirement that existing building staff be trained in energy efficient building
operations and maintenance.
LEVERAGE NEW YORK STATES SPENDING POWER
TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT1ENSURE THAT PROCUREMENT PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE
STATE CONTRACTING
ENSURE AN EQUITABLE TAX SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THE
CREATION OF AFFORDABLE AND MARKET-RATE HOUSING
Good Jobs, Strong Economy | 13
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Pass legislation to support the private security industry. Contracted security
officers provide the essential service of protecting the buildings where millions
of people work, live and visit each year. Yet because of poor industry standards,
turnover rates are high, pay and benefits are poor, training is inadequate, and
there is no career path to k eep security officers in the industry. To end this
XIncrease penalties on bad actors:Increase the penalties for securitycompanies that ignore licensing and training requirements and discipline
non-compliant companies more ex peditiously.
XResponsibly contract security services:Mandate 40 hours of training forsecurity officers for all security contractors receiving state contracts and
require companies that have contracts of $500,000 or more to participatein a security training program.
XPass home-rule legislationthat would expand New York Citys authorityover the licensing of security officers working in the city.
Implement health care initiativesthat leverage employer-based coverage to
cover the uninsured, such as funding programs that use employer and public
dollars to stretch coverage to those who remain uninsured. Bridge financing
models, like those proposed in New Jersey, can cover more people and bri ng
employer dollars into the health care system.
Reform unemployment insuranceby (a) ensuring that the unemployment
insurance system is fully funded, (b) increasing the payments to workers and
(c) revising the law that requires a seven-week waiting period for unemployment
benefits if a worker is unemployed due to a stri ke, lockout or other industrial
controversy.
Protect New York Citys school cleanersby opposing cuts to education in the
state budget.
Pass paid family leave legislation so workers can care for their loved ones and
take time off to care for a newborn or newly adopted child without risking their
jobs or their financial stability.
SET HIGHER STANDARDS FOR LOW-WAGE INDUSTRIES AND
STRENGTHEN WORKER SUPPORTS
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A STATETHAT WORKS Good Jobs,Strong Econo
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32BJ represents 120,000 workers in eight states and
Washington, D.C.including 70,000 New Yorkers
working in the property services industry.
We are committed to building a strong economy
that supports working families with good jobs and to
strengthening our communities to make New York
a viable place to live, work and raise a family.
32BJ SEIU
101 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10013
www.seiu32bj.org
To find out more about 32BJs policy agenda,
call 212-388-3954.
NEW YORK
A STATETHAT WORKS
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