TESTIMONY
Testimony by Brian Hunt on the Benefits of Union Labor in NYCFC Stadium Project
3:04:48
·
126 sec
Brian Hunt testifies on the importance of union labor in community development projects, emphasizing its benefits beyond construction. He argues that union labor provides workers with dignity, a pathway to the middle class, and retirement security, aligning with the city's values.
- Compares the community benefits of union labor to those of affordable housing and sports franchises
- Highlights union labor as a partnership that contributes to the city's shared values
- Emphasizes the role of union labor in allowing workers to raise families and continue living in the city
Brian Hunt
3:04:48
Hello.
3:04:48
Good afternoon, everybody.
3:04:51
So we too like Affordable housing.
3:04:54
Andrew says that provides benefits to the community and as we heard from New York City football club having a franchise here in Queens, there in Queens provides benefits to the community.
3:05:04
So does union labor.
3:05:05
Union labor provides a lot more than the brick and mortar that you see going up around town.
3:05:10
There's a lot more to it as you all know, and that's why we're excited to be a part of it as well.
3:05:14
It is a partnership.
3:05:15
As for the first time, we're going to have a 100% privately financed and union built stadium in New York City.
3:05:20
It's gonna be built by the safest and most skilled workforce in New York City.
3:05:24
Union Labor is a function of this economy.
3:05:26
It puts dollars back into the community.
3:05:28
But these projects, like I said, they're they're just they're they're gonna build more than just the brick and mortar that we walk into every day, and it's gonna provide the benefits that you'll see and that we have seen for a long time.
3:05:41
You know, you build a union and you're supporting education through our apprenticeship programs.
3:05:46
You're supporting health care.
3:05:47
You're supporting a lot of different programs that are important to the community and important to the members of the local unions.
3:05:53
As well as the small businesses that they spend their money and the delis, the shops, and everything else that comes along with that.
3:06:00
New York is a benchmark for many things.
3:06:03
And I think it's always been a benchmark for labor, and I think it needs to continue to be a benchmark for labor.
3:06:08
That should be at the top of the list or, you know, one of the things at the top of the list.
3:06:14
Mhmm.
3:06:14
But it sets an example, not just for the nation, but internationally, because it is soccer, football.
3:06:20
It's something that, you know, the whole world can look at, and we could see how it's built, and they could look at this as an example, which I'm very proud to be a part of, I think we all are.
3:06:32
And it shows, you know, the values that we share as a city.
3:06:36
And I think, again, labor is a major part of that.
3:06:38
And I think a good example to use as the values that we share as a city and how we treat our workers with dignity, and we give them a pathway not only to the middle class, but also an opportunity to retire with dignity and and raise a family and continue to live in the city.
3:06:54
Thank you.