Calls For ‘Fair And Just’ Wages For All
After months of deliberation, Community Board 2 finally took a stand on a long-running dispute between a union and a local developer at its Thursday, June 7 meeting at Sunnyside Community Services, with a carefully-crafted resolution supporting “fair and just wages” for all workers regardless of employer or trade.
The resolution comes after SEIU 32BJ-which represents over 50,000 building service workers across New York-came to Board 2 meetings in April and May asking for help in a long-running dispute between the union and TF Cornerstone, which has developed several buildings in Long Island City using non-union labor.
Several TF Cornerstone workers who spoke during Board 2’s public forum cited the lack of adequate safety training, a subpar pension plan and the lack of access to training courses that allow union employees to advance in their jobs.
“These workers are asking for a chance at the American dream,” Alex Vargas, an SEIU worker in the Bronx, told Board 2. “Let’s give it to them.”
Lenore Friedlaender, a local resident and SEIU vice president, noted that SEIU 32BJ has had “a positive relationship” with city developers. “It’s very important that our members and employers are focused on providing a quality service to our tenants.”
Friedlaender added in response to questions from Board 2 Chairperson Joseph Conley and First Vice President Stephen Cooper that there are “a variety of ways” in which a building’s workers can join the union. The method SEIU prefers is one where the union and developer mutually agree that the union would represent the employees.
As part of its deliberations, Board 2 released the contents of a fact sheet faxed by TF Cornerstone to the board just prior to its May 3 meeting. Ac- cording to the sheet, TF Cornerstone offers what it calls “a generous tuition reimbursement plan” as well as medical benefits which are “superior” to SEIU 32BJ’s and a retirement plan with greater transparency than the union’s.
City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer threw his support toward SEIU 32BJ.
“This issue is one that I believe is about justice, about fairness, about equality,” he said, asking Board 2 to take “a very clear and vocal statement in favor of the rights of working people.”
“I don’t care how rich and powerful you are. We decide what is best for our neighborhood,” he added. “Something tonight is so fundamental to me, so important to me.”
Board 2’s resolution states that “the Board fully supports the rights of all workers to seek fair and just compensation for their services, including wages, benefits, training and opportunity, and to join together to collectively bargain with any employer in seeking such compensation, without fear of reprisals.”
Bike share program
Kate Fillin-Yeh of the city Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled the city’s bike share program to Board 2.
Following a recent DOT forum in Hunters Point, the agency has picked out several locations for bike share kiosks. ‘
As previously reported, the pilot program will feature heavy-duty bikes with custom parts, and the stations will “install in less than 45 minutes,” according to Fillin-Yeh.
The program will be privately funded (Citibank is sponsoring the pilot), and residents will be able to sign up for daily, monthly or annual passes that will allow 30- or 45- minute trips for free; longer trips will incur an additional cost.
A total of 600 stations and 10,000 bikes will be part of the pliot.
The prospective station locations in Board 2 include:
– the west side of 2nd Street near 54th Avenue (at the Hunters Point East Rive Ferry terminal);
– Vernon Boulevard and 50th Avenue;
– 46th Avenue near 5th Street;
– 45th Road near 11th Street (Murray Playground);
– 44th Drive near Jackson Avenue;
– 46th Avenue near Jackson Avenue;
– 31st Street near Thomson Avenue;
– 21st Street near 43rd Avenue;
– Queens Plaza North near Crescent Street; and
– 21st Street near Queens Plaza North (technically Board 1).
The program will launch by the end of July.
Cooper asked why the stations are allowed in sites that are No Standing sites for cars.
“Cars pay taxes, pay registration, pay insurance, and bicycles pay nothing,” added Board 2’s Carol Terrano.
In response, Queens Commissioner Maura McCarthy stated that the agency is looking at locations from where the No Standing designation could be removed. In addition, the agency is working to determine locations where a bike station could be placed without posing an issue.
“If there’s an objection” to any of the sites, McCarthy said, “people should let us know.”
Other news
Conley and City Services Committee Chairperson Patrick O’Brien reported that Show Palace (formerly named Gypsy Rose) opened on May 31 on 42-50 21st St., despite being denied a liquor license from the State Liquor Authority.
“That issue is still on our radar,” Conley stated.
Local resident Jim Condes again asked Board 2 not to support a proposed school at 39th Avenue and 57th Street in Woodside, claiming that this would lead to three public schools within a block and a half, causing “a permanent adverse effect” to the area. Conley stated that the DOE has yet to approach Board 2 regarding the proposed school.
State Sen. Michael Gianaris told the crowd that he recently took a tour of the Newtown Creek-which is currently undergoing environmental remediation-with other public officials from Brooklyn and Queens.
“Brooklyn seems to get more of the attention when it comes to the creek cleanup, but we want to make sure our voices are heard,” he said.
Board 2 will not meet in July and August. They usually meet on the first Thursday of the month at Sunnyside Community Services, at 43-31 39th St. in Sunnyside.
