Union Labor to Build
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Winter 2014 UNION LABOR TO BUILD ENTIRE NEW YORK WHEEL & EMPIRE OUTLETS PROJECT On October 30th, after tireless work by members of Local 79, Until the agreement was reached, BFC Partners had insisted Build Up New York, members of other building trades’ unions, that only 15% of the labor used on the project would be union community leaders, and many others, the Building and labor. However, continuous Construction Trades Council of Greater New York announced pressure forced the developer an agreement had been reached with BFC partners to build to come to the table. “This is the Empire Outlets Project on Staten Island with 100% union a huge victory for Local 79 labor. The New York Wheel, a large Ferris wheel that is part and for the building trades,” of the overall project but being developed by a different said Local 79 Director of developer, had previously committed to using 100% union Organizing Chaz Rynkiewicz. labor. The City Council voted its approval for the entire $580 “We argued from the beginning million project the following day, leading Mayor Michael that a project that promised to Bloomberg to say that it was a “momentous day for Staten bring a long-term economic Island.” In addition to the private funds for the development, boost to the City should also Staten Island will receive $51 million in city funding for a provide decent, middle-class number of projects, as well as $35 million from the Department jobs for those who were of Transportation for Staten Island Ferry terminal design. going to build it.” LOCAL 79 JOINS IMMIGRATION RALLY IN WASHINGTON DC On Tuesday, October 8, four buses filled with Local 79 members and their families arrived in Washington, D.C. to participate in the Camino Americano rally. The rally was organized in support of broad immigration legislation, a top priority of LiUNA and of Local 79. Included in the legislation, which has already passed the Senate, is a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Several thousand people from around the country, including a large contingent of Laborers, gathered in the middle of the National Mall to listen to speeches. Following the rally, numerous labor, faith, community and political leaders took part in a large-scale civil disobedience action in front of the Capitol that resulted in many arrests. Local 79’s Membership Coordinator Juan Mazlymian, said the willingness of so many Local 79 members to spend an entire work day to attend the rally was “an indication of the importance of this issue to our membership and to all working people. The time for action on immigration reform is now!” LOCAL 79 VOLUNTEERS HELP BRIGHTEN UP SCHOOLS On Saturday, November 23rd, members from Local 79 financial rewards to some of them for their work. Local 79 volunteered to work with students from Publicolor to has been partnering with Publicolor for the past year. In paint their school. Publicolor, a addition to painting, volunteers non-profit founded in 1996, aims helps students understand who to improve education in youth by Laborers are, what they do, and the promoting an imaginative use of importance of unions. If members color in school buildings. Its are interested in getting involved operations include recruiting with Publicolor, please contact disadvantaged students to paint the Melissa Shetler (LECET) at walls of their schools and giving 212-452-9383. HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF LABORERS’ LOCAL 79 MESSAGE FROM BUSINESS MANAGER MIKE PROHASKA With the start of the new year, I For more information on the New York State or am happy to report that 2013 was Connecticut Marketplace, visit https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov or a very successful year for Local https://www.accesshealth.ct.com/AHCT/LandingPageCTHIX . 79 members. With many large For more information on your Marketplace options if projects on the horizon, 2014 you reside in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, visit promises to be an equally if not www.healthcare.gov , since New Jersey and Pennsylvania busier year. have not established a state health exchange. To assist you There are a number of very with understanding how to go about selecting and important things that I wanted to purchasing health coverage through the exchange, the ACA share with all members related to created the Navigator Program. ACA Navigators are trained healthcare coverage, prescription to help consumers learn about their health plan options and benefits, and life insurance. I to assist with enrollment. The ACA Navigators’ website urge all of you to read the information below carefully. address is http://acanavigators.com . The Mason Tenders’ District Council Welfare Fund and As always, if you have questions about health coverage the Affordable Care Act provided by the Mason Tenders’ District Council Welfare If you have health coverage provided to you by the Fund or other options if you are no longer eligible for Mason Tenders’ District Council Welfare Fund, it satisfies coverage from the Welfare Fund, you can visit the Funds’ the minimum value and affordability standards of the Offices at 520 Eighth Ave, Suite 660, New York, NY 10018 Affordable Care Act (ACA). If you satisfy the Fund’s or call the Medical Eligibility Department at (212) 452-9700. eligibility requirement, the full cost of your health coverage The Welfare Fund’s staff also may be able to assist you with is provided as part of your collectively-bargained benefits. questions about the Health Insurance Marketplace and the Consequently, if you have benefits through the Fund, you do requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Information on not need to go to the health care exchanges (called the those matters is also available at www.healthcare.gov . “Marketplace”) to purchase health coverage, and you will A New Choice for Filling Prescriptions not be eligible for any subsidy from the government if you In the past, participants of the Mason Tenders’ District do go to the Marketplace. Council Welfare Fund prescription drug plan were required to As of January 1, 2014, if your health coverage has use mail-order for all maintenance medications after the lapsed with the result that you will have up to a three-month initial 30-day supply and one refill. As of September 1, 2013, period without health coverage through the Welfare Fund, this has changed to give you more convenience and choice. If you are, with few exceptions, mandated by law to purchase you currently are using the Aetna Rx Home Delivery and health coverage. Health care coverage may be obtained would like to continue with this service, you do not have to do through the New York State Marketplace (if you reside in anything. However, if you prefer to go to a CVS/pharmacy, New York), the Connecticut Marketplace (if you reside in take your new prescription or refill for a 90-day supply and Connecticut), or the federal Marketplace (if you live in New ask the pharmacist to fill it for you. You pay the same amount Jersey or Pennsylvania), or else you will be subject to a tax if you use the mail-order pharmacy or a CVS/pharmacy. penalty. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for Increased Death and Dismemberment Insurance Benefit a federal subsidy for your healthcare costs during a period All Local 79 members and retirees are automatically that you are not eligible for coverage under the Fund. eligible to receive a $4,000 Accidental Death and 2 LOCAL 79 NEWS | Winter 2014 (Message from Business Manager Mike Prohaska continued.) Dismemberment benefit provided by the National Income Life card or call the company, nor are you under any obligation Insurance Company. You do not need to do anything or fill out whatsoever to purchase any of the company’s products. Again, anything to be eligible to receive this benefit. However, if you the $4,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit is wish to designate a beneficiary and receive a certificate of provided free of charge with absolutely no strings attached. coverage, you will need to fill out the blue card that was sent to you by the National Income Life Insurance Company and I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. send it back to them in the envelope they provided. If you do not have the card or the envelope, you can call the company at Fraternally Yours, 1-800-503-1426. If you send the card back or call the company, a representative of the company will call on you to deliver the certificate, witness your beneficiary designation, and tell you about other insurance programs available to you. Please be aware that you are under no obligation to return the Mike Prohaska A VICTORY FOR POST-HURRICANE SANDY WORKERS Thanks in large part to the work of Bobby Bonanza of the overtime pay despite working long shifts that far Mason Tenders’ District Council of Greater New York exceeded 40 hours per week. and the advocacy organization Make the Road New York, Business Manager Bobby Bonanza of the Mason New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has Tenders District Council had this to say about the verdict: ordered a contractor to pay workers who worked on “The action taken today by Attorney General post-Sandy cleanup back wages totaling $512,206. Schneiderman, and his office, once again sends a clear An investigation by the Attorney General’s office message to anyone who wants to do public construction found that subcontractors hired by the contractor had work in New York State—play by the rules, don’t break the significantly underpaid workers during the cleanup and laws, and don’t exploit your workers.