PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jose Carlos Rosas, Member of the Public, on Affordable Housing and Worker Exploitation
1:47:22
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127 sec
Jose Carlos Rosas, a Queens resident, testified about his experience working for an affordable housing contractor, highlighting low wages, lack of health insurance, and poor living conditions. He emphasized the struggles faced by immigrant workers and the need for fair wages and benefits in the construction industry.
- Described working for $15/hour without health insurance in dangerous demolition work
- Shared personal hardships, including living with five family members in one room and avoiding healthcare due to costs
- Joined with over 100 coworkers to fight for fair wages, healthcare, and retirement security, facing retaliation in the process
Jose Carlos Rosas (via Spanish Interpreter)
1:47:22
My name is Jose Carlos Rosas, and I live in Queens.
1:47:26
I worked 4 years for an affordable housing contractor that benefited from city subsidized work.
1:47:32
I got paid $15 an hour, and I never had employer pay health insurance.
1:47:38
I was doing dangerous demolition work, but I could barely afford to survive.
1:47:43
I struggle to provide for my family basic necessities like groceries and clothing.
1:47:48
My family and I live five people in one room, myself, my wife, and our 3 daughters.
1:47:56
Because that was all we could afford.
1:47:58
This was especially difficult if one of us got sick.
1:48:02
I used public hospital services for my daughters.
1:48:05
But when I got sick, I just stayed home and hoped that for the best.
1:48:09
Many in my community do not qualify for most government resources.
1:48:14
And the ones that we do qualify for, they are scared to use.
1:48:19
Some refuse to go to the hospital, and it has to cut short, and it cuts short their life.
1:48:25
I'll never forget the friends and family lost during the coronavirus pandemic.
1:48:30
It was then I realized that quality health insurance could mean life or death.
1:48:36
Our company was mostly immigrants, but all workers in the company were exploited.
1:48:42
We got paid just enough to keep coming back to work.
1:48:46
The companies benefited from the work we did but they never gave anything back to us to benefit our families.
1:48:54
Over a 100 of us in this company have come together as the most the motto still on these tests to fight for fair wage package with healthcare and retirement security.
1:49:04
We face intimidation and retaliation.
1:49:08
1 of my coworkers was unlawfully fired, and it took over a year for him to be offered his job back.
1:49:15
Despite the unfair labor practices, we have not given up.
1:49:19
We are proud to join the thousands of construction workers in this city fighting for the justice on affordable housing projects.
1:49:26
We are worth at least $40 an hour.
1:49:29
Thank you.
