PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Asine Martin from Harlem on Construction Worker Conditions and Fair Wages
1:25:32
·
123 sec
Asine Martin, a construction worker from Harlem, shares his experiences of working in dangerous conditions with low wages and lack of benefits. He advocates for construction justice, calling for safe jobs that pay at least $40 an hour and provide health insurance.
- Martin describes her journey from exploitation to joining an apprenticeship program, which helped her family escape poverty.
- He highlights the importance of job security and fair treatment in the construction industry, noting it as the deadliest industry in New York City.
- Martin expresses pride in his son following his footsteps through a union apprenticeship, emphasizing the positive impact of fair wages and benefits in affordable housing construction.
Asine Martin
1:25:32
Hello, ladies and gentlemen.
1:25:33
Thank you for your time.
1:25:34
My name is Racine Martin, and I'm from Harlem.
1:25:37
I worked many years in dangerous conditions, building affordable housing while struggling day to day with low wages.
1:25:43
My low pay made me feel easily replaceable I first worked for a demolition company that fired me because I complained about getting paid off the books.
1:25:52
I've next worked for a masonry company on the books, but I was still so poorly paid that I had to use my Medicaid.
1:26:00
When I entered my ankle on a night shift, I was told by my foreman that I wasn't getting workers comp, so I ended up using some of my sick days.
1:26:07
This job paid a little better, so I went back to work limping.
1:26:10
The most amazing every company paid me was $25 an hour.
1:26:14
But they never gave me health insurance.
1:26:16
It also was not steady work because in construction, you may not have work every day.
1:26:21
An amazing every work, especially weather dependent.
1:26:25
I woke up every morning afraid that I get a text that I wouldn't be working that day, and not getting paid.
1:26:30
My worst fear is not being able to provide for my family.
1:26:34
Construction is the deadliest industry in New York City.
1:26:37
All of us are risking our lives every day.
1:26:40
We deserve safe jobs that treat us fairly and pay at least $40 an hour.
1:26:45
Since I began my apprenticeship, I've been able to take my family out of poverty.
1:26:49
I have job security, and I don't fear missing a day of work.
1:26:53
I'm proud of my family and friends that are now following in my footsteps.
1:26:57
My son recently started his apprenticeship program with local 79, and he did not have to experience exploitation like I had to.
1:27:05
He was just on an affordable housing site in the Bronx working for a masonry contractor that pays fair wages and health insurance.
1:27:13
At the moment, I'm working with my tools to renovate a hospital, but I would love one day to work with my son on affordable housing site with a job pay rate of at least $40 standard.
1:27:23
Construction justice has already blessed my family I will say he needs to create more good jobs so those living in poverty have a chance to make a better life for themselves.
1:27:32
We need construction, justice.
1:27:34
Thank you.
