NYC Carpenters Collaborate with New Orleans

Local carpenter and contractor volunteers rebuild firehouses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Also, New York State DOT and private contractor share award

Carpenters Union Lends a Hand

The New York City Union Carpenters and Contractors, together with the Leary Firefighters Foundation of New York, have been honored by the Katrina Incident Commanders of New Orleans Fire Department for their rebuilding efforts to restore the New Orleans’ firehouses destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

Gerry Crimmins and Sean Keogan, instructors at the Labor Technical College at the New York City District Council of Carpenters’ training center, became involved in 2006 and lead the rebuilding efforts.

According to The New York City and Vicinity Carpenters Labor-Management Corporation, Hurricane Katrina destroyed 22 of the 33 engine houses in New Orleans. The union reconstructed seven new firehouses in New Orleans over the course of eight months and the contribution to the NOFD by the Union is estimated to be more than $500,000.

BTEA Spearheads Safety Campaign

The Building Trade Employers’ Association recently launched the second phase of a $1 million advertising campaign recognizing its members’ positive safety record.

The campaign involves a commercial aired on local TV stations to magnify the importance of maintaining a safe work environment. The commercial offers statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that claims over the last eighteen months 90% of worksite fatalities occurred on non-union work sites.

“Our members employ skilled union labor, and our sites are safer because we invest more than $50 million of our own money on worker safety training which non-union contractors simply do not do,” said Louis J. Coletti, president and CEO of BTEA

Even though the commercial promotes union activity, it does emphasize safety as a top priority for both union and non-union contractors.

The first phase of the initiative, the Respect and Recognition campaign, began in December 2006 and included television, radio, mail and print advertisements.

NYS Recognized for Road Work

The National Partnership for Highway Quality recently announced the New York State Department of Transportation and contractor Ramsey Constructors, Inc. have been named the 2007 National Achievement Award State Winners for work on the Route 65/251 Modern Roundabout in Mendon, New York.

Originally proposed as a realignment project, Routes 65 and 251 had so many obstacles the initial plan could not be followed. The project team found that high travel speed and an accident rate 3.4 times the statewide average coupled with westbound delays during peak hours could not handle the original realignment plan. Also, the intersection housed an historic 100-yr-old birch tree and barn that could not handle the construction impact. Thus, a modern roundabout was selected as the alternative.

New York State Department of Transportation and Ramsey Constructors, Inc. are being honored not only for their project quality but also for the relationship between a state department and private contractor. Also considered during the awards process was technical and materials innovation, effectiveness of public involvement, deadline adherence and cost, and consideration of to environmental needs.

ASANJ Awards Announced

The American Subcontractors Association of New Jersey recently honored a few distinct members at its 36th Annual Black Tie Awards Dinner.

The 2007 recipients are companies whose contributions have bettered the construction industry by achieving higher levels of professionalism, according to ASANJ.

Subcontractor of the Year is Eii, Inc., General Contractor of the Year is Epic Management, Inc., Construction Project of the Year is Prudential Center, Labor Leader of the Year is Business Manager of IBEW Local #164 Richard Dressel, Public Policy Leader of the Year is the Mayor of Newark Cory Booker and the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Everett True of True & Associates.

The honorees accepted their awards at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, New Jersey.

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