NON-UNION WORKERS (Gariiiiiiiiib)

NON-UNION WORKERS (Gariiiiiiib) The Laborers' Union, which is behind most large-scale construction projects in the city, and the Builders' Association, which represents developers, both say that non-union work sites cause far more accidents than union sites. But these organizations have interests in not only maintaining safety at construction sites, but squeezing out lower-paid non-union workers, many of whom are undocumented workers, who are their main competition.

These organizations have close relationships with the Department of Buildings and contribute heavily to new regulations. They have little interest in large-scale regulations changes that better incorporate safety requirements in all jobs uniformly because the costs would disproportionately fall on union jobs. Rather, they prefer small, piecemeal changes that don't put the burden on them all at one time.

The Department of Buildings has so far seemed quite obliging, preferring small changes in reaction to crises (such as the 2006 death of Ramiro Jara). But why? Why are immigrant groups and politicians like Councilmember Rosie Mendez (district 2, Housing & Buildings cttee) upset at the pace and scope of new regulations?