PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jamal Butler from Staten Island on Construction Worker Wages and Safety
1:27:50
·
139 sec
Jamal Butler, a construction worker from Staten Island, testified about the challenges faced by workers in the construction industry, particularly regarding wages, health insurance, and safety. He advocated for better pay and benefits for construction workers, especially on projects receiving public funding.
- Butler described his experience working for a concrete contractor, earning $25/hour but struggling with high health insurance costs and dangerous working conditions.
- He contrasted this with his later job as a residential laborer, where a $40/hour pay package allowed him to afford rent, family health insurance, and feel safer on the job.
- Butler emphasized the need for fair wages, quality healthcare, and retirement benefits for construction workers, supporting the passage of Construction Justice Bill 910.
Jamal Butler
1:27:50
Alright.
1:27:50
Good morning, city council.
1:27:51
My name is Jamal Butler, and I'm from Staten Island.
1:27:54
Worked I worked for a concrete contractor on affordable housing in Holland.
1:27:59
When I was working there, I had to pay an arm and leg for my health insurance.
1:28:04
I was making $25 an hour, but at the end of the month, I said I had to pay send, like, $500 out of my pocket to get my own health insurance.
1:28:12
I still had high co pays and out of pocket courses.
1:28:16
I need a health coverage because I had one of the most dangerous jobs.
1:28:20
I used I was grinding the concrete ceilings or the dust was going straight into my face.
1:28:26
I used to look like someone beat me with a bag of flour.
1:28:29
Someone told me, watch out, silicone could keep a point.
1:28:33
So I bought my own respirator and my own health insurance, but then I had no money left at the end of the month.
1:28:40
Had none to fall back on if I ever lost that job.
1:28:43
There was ties.
1:28:43
I wouldn't get paid on time.
1:28:45
All my checks were balanced.
1:28:48
Sometimes I need to sign hustles or a second job to make ends meet.
1:28:52
My coworkers and I Worked ourselves to the bone.
1:28:56
You you got so tired, created safety problems, and falling objects almost took my life multiple times.
1:29:03
When I became a residential labor with a $40 pay package, I could pay my rent, my family health insurance, and I felt safer working on a job site that invests in its workers.
1:29:15
Too many construction workers are getting explored, especially on job sites receiving tax paid money.
1:29:22
These contractors should pay us enough to live decently and afford health care, not run us into the ground with no savings, and leave us with no savings.
1:29:32
No one could tell me we don't deserve to make $40 per hour.
1:29:36
Construction workers can't work forever.
1:29:39
We need retirement with dignity when our bodies break down from work.
1:29:43
For this reason, we also need quality medical care, working in one of the most dangerous industries.
1:29:49
Pain construction work is fairly and higher from local communities will approve job safety and productivity that's built affordable housing better and faster.
1:30:01
Our support our support the passage of the construction justice until 9:10.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
1:30:07
Thank you so much.
Jamal Butler
1:30:08
You're welcome.
1:30:08
Yeah.
