Residential Fire Protection

New Union Labor Rates Make Residential Fire Protection More Affordable Than Ever

  

MCA And Steamfitters Announce
Historic Residential Agreement
Representatives from the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York, Inc. (MCA) and Steamfitters Local 638 announced a new Residential Agreement on all new construction or renovation of residential buildings 12 stories or less. This Agreement is intended to encourage real estate owners who are developing new market rate and affordable housing to work with the unionized construction industry to build these projects.

In a session including the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, the Mechanical Contractors Association and Steamfitters Union Local 638, the agreement, including the following provisions, was overviewed:

• There will be two classifications of helper, 1st year helper and helper. First year helper wages will be approximately 50% of journeymen rates.

• The hours and labor shall be eight hours per day, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with 30 minutes unpaid lunchtime. The hours of labor may be adjusted if agreed to between the Local Union and the contractor.

• Overtime shall be worked when requested and be paid at the rate of one and one half times the regular wage rate (fringe benefits at single). Overtime for holidays and Sundays shall be paid at double the regular wage rate (single for fringes).

These work rule changes are increasingly important as it is becoming difficult for union contractors to win bids to build residential buildings that are less than 12 stories tall. Contractors were encouraged to work with other trades to expand the approach.

This new agreement allows quality construction by our trained staff to be more affordable than ever. Labor costs on these projects will allow ABCO to compete with any and all contractors performing this kind of work, while maintaining a safe work environment.