Hopefully once the US gets out of Iraq and Afghanistan it will free some money (billions) to reinvest in some major infrustructure projects at home !

But once again, these 'minority construction workers' were all invited to come and work in the US, but must realize that when times of recession hit, it affects every industry. The gravy train has left a few years ago!

Minority construction workers crowd into state Sen. Cunningham's office to ask help getting work on local projects

Friday, September 10, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Dozens of out-of-work minority union construction workers converged on state Sen. Sandra Cunningham's Jersey City office yesterday in search of work.

The Rev. Robert Allen, a member of Carpenters Local 6, organized the event, which caught Cunningham off guard. Cunningham expected to meet with Allen to discuss the plight of unemployed construction workers, but didn't expect workers to pack her office.

She immediately called the Jersey City Housing Authority, which has some ongoing construction projects and began referring people there.

But Allen and Paul Roldan, a business agent for Local 325 Construction and General Building Laborers, said they're upset that local union construction workers aren't being used on state-and federally-funded projects such as the Tonnelle Circle improvements.

"All we can do is reach out to some of the politicians and let them know what we're going through," Roldan said. "We have people losing their homes."

Both Hudson County and Jersey City have laws that promote the use of local laborers.

The City of Jersey City asks developers of tax-abated properties and projects exceeding $25 million to hire city residents for at least 20 percent of the construction apprentice positions.

Hudson County requires developers to use as much local labor as possible, but there isn't a specified number of hires since some jobs require specially skilled workers, said Bill Gaughan, chief of staff for County Executive Tom DeGise.

There are no local labor requirements on state projects.

Tony Buttino, Local 6's president and business agent, said the state hired a union contractor for the Tonnelle Circle work, but the company isn't required to hire local workers.

"We're going to check into that, see if there's anything we can do," Cunningham said.