Unions

UNIONS REPRESENTING 18,000 OPERATING ENGINEERS IN SIX NEW YORK LOCALS ENDORSE BEN KALLOS FOR MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT

The New York City Coalition of Operating Engineers is proud to endorse New York City Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President.

“During his time in the City Council no one has worked harder than Ben Kallos to protect the safety of tens of thousands of men and women in the construction industry. He understands that in order to ensure their safety and the safety of the millions of New Yorkers, commuters, and tourists who pass by construction sites each day, it is critically important that all workers be properly trained. He knows and continuously advocates that the integrity and rigor of our procedures for licensing these workers must be maintained and, when necessary, strengthened,” said Edwin Christian, President of the 18,000 member coalition.

“Our members operate the cranes that soar above our skyline; bore the tunnels that provide our water; inspect the buildings that are constructed throughout the City; and operate the most complex and energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in our hospitals, schools, and residential and commercial towers. All of our members are trained, certified, and licensed."

“Ben Kallos understands the significance of those credentials. Our members believe Ben Kallos has the proper credentials to be Manhattan’s next Borough President.”

Joining with Christian were the Business Managers of all six New York City IUOE local unions comprising the Coalition, including Thomas Callahan (Local 15); William Lynn (Local 30); Kuba Brown (Local 94); Nelson Mas (Local 211); and Robert Troeller (Local 891).

The New York City Coalition of Operating Engineers represents 18,000 crane and heavy equipment operators, stationary engineers, school custodians, and New York City building inspectors.

“Keeping the lights on is a 24-hour 7 day a week job for our utility workers which is something Council Member Ben Kallos has always understood. As a candidate he joined us at daily protests in front of the home of the CEO who made million off the backs of consumers as he locked workers out of their jobs for nearly a month. As a Council Member, Ben Kallos has always been there for us and we need him as the next Manhattan Borough President fighting ConEd to protect workers and consumers,” said James Shillitto, President, Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2.

“Construction is safest when workers have the benefit of modern training facilities, certifications, on the job training, and wages that recognize their expertise, these are facts Ben Kallos already knew when he toured our training hall. As a Council Member Ben Kallos has fought for training, apprenticeship, and prevailing wage on publicly funded projects through laws he’s co-sponsored, legislation he has authored, and a project by project basis. Kallos authored the law to count every life on a construction, creating fines for disreputable contractors that would hide injuries on the job. As the next Manhattan Borough President Ben Kallos will continue Gale Brewer’s construction safety working group and fight for our city’s working families,” said Patrick Dolan, Jr. President of Steamfitters Local 638.

“A man of his word, when we questioned why city dollars were going to subsidize poverty wages on construction sites, Council Member Ben Kallos immediately began working with us on legislation supporting fair wages and benefits for construction workers throughout our city. We’ve been proud to march with him shoulder to shoulder and hope to continue to do so as our next Borough President,” said Sal Starace, Financial Secretary-Treasurer and Recording Secretary for Sheet Metal Workers Local 28.

Dear Council Member Kallos,

On behalf of the officers and members of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 28, it gives me great pleasure to
inform you that we are proud to endorse your candidacy for election to Borough President of Manhattan.

Local 28 was chartered on October 15, 1913, and throughout our over one-hundred-year history we have faced
many adversaries which have threatened our very livelihood. We have always faced these adversities head on and
have been committed to establishing safe and desirable working conditions with fair pay for not only our members
but for all working people. To that end, we must be able to rely on our elected leaders to make the tough
decisions When called upon to support the same working men and women of this great city.

You have made it a priority to fight for these working class families, our families. You strongly support middle
class jobs that keep pace with the cost of living in our city. You support laws that require prevailing wage pay. You
support laws that require strict safety measures on construction jobs around New York City. Far too many
workers are killed each year because of negligence. Your dedication to adequate pension plans, quality hea1thcare
and state approved apprenticeship programs has given us hope in our fight for a strong middle class.

Council Member Kallos, you have worked hard to answer the concerns of your Manhattan district residents, and
we feel you will continue to do so as Borough President.

We look forward to working with you to be able to support our mutual goals.

Sincerely yours,

ERIC MESLIN
President and Business Manager

“Ben Kallos has been a dramatic and effective member of the City Council. His energy and courage stand out and we are very pleased with his responsiveness and hard work,” said Robert Croghan, Chairperson and President of the Organization of Staff Analysts (OSA), whose leadership has endorsed Kallos.

“Real Estate Developers took billions in public dollars for affordable housing, and many have not lived up to their promises. When I discovered this, Ben Kallos was there to listen and protect my whistle blower status. He authored the law that I recommended to force landlords to register each and every unit of affordable housing to help end the crisis,” said Stephen Werner, from the Executive Board of the Organization of Staff Analysts (OSA),  an analyst and whistleblower at Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) with whom Kallos worked alongside ProPublica to expose as many as 200,000 units of affordable housing that had gone unregistered and pass Local Law 64 to force their registration and offering to low-income New Yorkers.

"The health and welfare of patients in our NYC hospitals is better served with safe staffing of nurses, something Council Member Ben Kallos has fought for and helped us win at Lenox Hill Hospital. For the last six years, Ben has stood with us at informational events, advocating directly with executives or in the media, and has been there for our members for two successful contract negotiations. Anyone who may one day be a patient at a hospital in Manhattan will be well served to have Ben Kallos as the next Borough President fighting for safe staffing and positive patient outcomes," said President Kathleen Flynn, RN, Esq. of the New York Professional Nurses Union (NYPNU).