You are not signed into the members only section. Please sign in for all content. |
|---|
Statement by Gary LaBarbera, President of Building and Construction Trades of Greater New York Regarding Ed Malloy's Passing
The Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, its local affiliates of 15 national and international unions and their 100,000 members join in mourning the passing of Edward J. Malloy. He was a true icon within our industry not only in New York City, but throughout the United States. His leadership will be truly missed.
Mr. Malloy served as president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York from 1992-2008 and as president of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council from 1992 until his retirement earlier this year. Prior to his service in these capacities, Mr. Malloy served as president of the Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local Union 638, where he began as an apprentice, rose to journeyman and was a longtime member. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Mr. Malloy was a driving force for private economic development and public infrastructure improvements throughout the city and state. He was instrumental in promoting measures to contain construction costs and maximize employment opportunities for union members. His signature achievement in this regard is the advancement of project labor agreements for major public works projects, which are now widely used to deliver construction in a cost-efficient and timely manner.
In 1994, Mr. Malloy led efforts to negotiate a PLA with the New York State Thruway Authority for $130 million of repairs to the Tappan Zee Bridge. This PLA was the first of its kind on a major public works project in New York and saved taxpayers millions of dollars. Nonunion contractors sued to block the use of this PLA, but were unsuccessful, with the New York State Court of Appeals issuing a landmark decision affirming the legality of PLAs on public works projects that promote the fiscal interests of taxpayers and maintain competition.
In 2004, Mr. Malloy led efforts to negotiate the first PLA for major public works projects in New York City with the School Construction Authority. This PLA covered billions of dollars of renovations to public school buildings from fiscal years 2005-2009 and was determined to have saved taxpayers more than $221 million. It served as the forerunner to expanded PLAs that were negotiated in 2009 with the City of New York and the School Construction Authority that are currently in effect and saving taxpayers more than $300 million from fiscal years 2010-2014.
Mr. Malloy was also a strong supporter of promoting opportunity and diversity to have the unionized construction industry’s work force reflect the demographics of New York City’s communities. He helped launch programs to provide access to careers in the building and construction trades for youth, veterans of the U.S. Armed Services, minorities and women. The results of these efforts are evident today, with the majority of union apprentices and workers in New York City’s construction industry being African American, Hispanic, Asian and other minorities.
In 1992, Mr. Malloy led efforts to create Project Pathways with the City of New York and the School Construction Authority which were later joined by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This innovative program expanded access for graduates of public high schools in New York City to unionized apprenticeships in the construction industry from 1993-2000. Hundreds of African American, Hispanic, Asian and other minority youth of the city gained access to careers in the unionized construction industry through this program.
In 2001, Project Pathways, which had been administered by the School Construction Authority, was transferred to a private not-for-profit corporation named Construction Skills 2000, which has since been renamed The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills in honor of Mr. Malloy’s role in its founding. Construction Skills has proudly placed more than 1,300 youth, public housing residents and other city residents into unionized apprenticeships, 89 percent of whom are African American, Hispanic, Asian and other minorities.
Edward J. Malloy was respected by all who knew him as not only a tireless advocate for working men and women, but an advocate for our great city and state. His hard work and wit allowed him to pass easily from union halls to business board rooms and the chambers of government.
This dedication and personality served members of organized labor well for decades as he worked to promote job creation, economic development and fairness. His contributions are immeasurable and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for them. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family on behalf of an entire industry.