Newsroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2024

DC 37 and Local 1740 rally with elected officials, community leaders for fair contract with NYC School Construction Authority amid stalled negotiations

Photos and video from today’s rally available here.

NEW YORK– District Council 37 and Local 1740, the union that represents architects, engineers and technical professionals with the NYC School Construction Authority, convened more than 200 workers, elected officials and labor allies at a rally in front of SCA headquarters this afternoon to demand SCA management come back to the bargaining table for a fair contract for its workers. The last contract expired in 2021 and SCA workers have not received a pay increase since before the pandemic.

“Don’t tell me that you care about the construction of our schools if you don’t understand the value and contributions of the people who make it happen. We have a message for the SCA: the strength of this agency doesn’t rely on your management, but on the people who do the work. We want to see respect for our workers at the bargaining table with wages and a fair contract— NOW,” said Henry Garrido, District Council 37 Executive Director.

“We’re here because we’re united in our love for the work and our love for the children of this city. We want to keep the best people here to continue doing the best work, and our members need a fair contract to make that happen. We’re responsible for taking care of New York City’s school children and providing safe, quality facilities, and yet the School Construction Authority has rewarded us by taking away our raises and giving them to their managers. Without the expertise of the workers who are actually doing the work to build our schools, SCA has nothing to offer,” said Charles Komlo, President of Local 1740 and Architectural Quality Assurance Specialist with the School Construction Authority.

“I’m a public school mom, and for a long time we’ve been fighting for smaller class sizes for our students. We need more schools so that our children can receive the appropriate attention that they deserve. I trust in the experts and professionals at Local 1740 who will help us reach that goal. It’s not fair that these workers haven’t seen a raise since before the pandemic, and that the City is not bargaining in good faith—that’s union-busting. It’s one thing to say there’s no money for raises, but if your supervisors are getting raises while you are doing all the work it takes, it’s not fair. The Legislature and the Labor Committee stand with Local 1740 in the fight for a fair contract, and we won’t rest until you get it,” said New York State Senator Jessica Ramos, Chair of the Senate Committee on Labor.

“The very people who build and maintain over 1,800 schools should be given the baseline of a dignified contract. I want this message to be loud and clear: New York is a union town and Long Island City is a union neighborhood. Every time you fight this fight, you prove that we’re building our union power and sending a message that we won’t let up. Let’s win this contract,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, who represents New York’s 59th District including western Queens, where SCA’s headquarters is located.

“How do we ensure the best for our children’s future? By making sure that our School Construction Authority workers get paid their fair share. The SCA is constructing five new schools in my district that they are expecting you to build without receiving fair wages. We will do everything we can to make sure that you get a fair contract. We have your back,” said City Council Member Julie Won, Chair of the Contracts Committee.

“I think the School Construction Authority does a good job, but none of that happens without its workers. The pandemic was years ago, and it’s time to do the right thing here. We shouldn’t have to push public agencies to give their workers a raise while their executives get paid. We need a contract and we need it now. We all work for the City because we love the work, but you have to pay our workers. SCA: do the right thing. Let’s get it done,” said City Council Member Justin Brannan, Chair of the Finance Committee.

“We have amazing architects, engineers and technical professionals who do an amazing job building beautiful, sustainable schools for our community. Can you believe they haven’t had a raise since before the pandemic? Your City Council has your back. We will fight with you every step of the way to ensure you get a contract that reflects your great work,” said City Council Member Lincoln Restler.

“It’s unconscionable that the School Construction Authority has left these workers for over three years without a contract or a raise. These are the people working families rely on to make sure we’re building schools that can keep our children and our educators safe. It’s critical that we’re able to retain and recruit the very best. That’s why the entire NYC Labor Movement will stand with Local 1740 members for as long as it takes to win a fair contract with wages and benefits that reflect their importance to our city,” said Vincent Alvarez, President of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Workers with the School Construction Authority build and renovate schools for approximately 1 million children enrolled in the public school system. DC 37 and Local 1740 will continue pushing for fair wages and benefits for the workers who ensure the safety and reliability of New York City’s 1,800+ public school buildings.