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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Shawana Berry, Union Member from Local 79, on Construction Worker Experiences and Union Benefits
1:42:24
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138 sec
Shawana Berry, a union member from Local 79, shares her experience as a construction worker on nonunion affordable housing projects and the positive changes after joining a union. She highlights the struggles of low wages, lack of benefits, and difficulties in managing work and family life before becoming a union member.
- Describes the challenges of working on nonunion affordable housing projects, including low wages ($18/hour) and no health insurance
- Emphasizes the improvements in her life after joining the union, including better wages, medical and retirement benefits, and ability to support her children's education
- Advocates for construction justice and the need for workers to earn living wages while building affordable housing
Shawana Berry
1:42:24
My name is Shawana.
1:42:25
I'm from East Harlem.
1:42:27
I have 3 kids.
1:42:28
I was a construction worker on nonunion affordable housing projects until 2022.
1:42:34
I joined the local 79 apprentice program in 2023, and now I'm a proud local 79 apprentice.
1:42:41
I struggled working on nonunion affordable housing.
1:42:45
The contractors paid me property wages, and offered no insurance.
1:42:50
On these projects, I did hard work like general conditions, labor, cleaning the site, fire guard, and running the voice.
1:42:57
I had a lot of responsibilities, but I got paid only $18 an hour.
1:43:03
Even though I was working full time, I struggled to care for myself and my kids.
1:43:07
I had to rely on government assistance like Medicaid.
1:43:10
But even with that, there were a lot of out of pocket cause because I have a health condition that requires regular checkups and medication.
1:43:19
I always had to cancel my doctor's appointments because I couldn't afford to miss work and because I couldn't afford the out of pocket course.
1:43:28
These were times that I needed to see a doctor and I couldn't.
1:43:32
This was difficult as a mother who was a provider for my household.
1:43:36
I didn't even have time to help my kids with homework.
1:43:39
When I worked on these affordable housing projects, I needed a better wage.
1:43:44
I needed a just wage.
1:43:46
I needed benefits or at least to make enough to be able to afford my own health care and to start putting a little money away for emergencies.
1:43:55
A $40 package would have made a huge difference.
1:43:58
A $40 package would have given me a little breathing room to buy my kids' school supplies and save for their college expenses.
1:44:06
My life got a lot better after I joined the union.
1:44:09
Now I can stay afloat because I earn a family sustaining wage.
1:44:14
Every hour that I work goes towards medical and retirement contributions paid by my employer.
1:44:20
2 of my kids are going to college, and I finally feel like I can support them.
1:44:26
I wanna build more affordable housing in my neighborhood, but me and other mothers just like me have to be able to live with dignity while we're building these projects.
1:44:36
Our labor is not invisible.
1:44:39
We deserve construction justice.
1:44:41
Thank you.