BTEA at the center of city's historic building boom.

This past spring, the Building Trades Employers' Association (BTEA) hosted its most successful event in the association's 104-year history at the 2007 Leadership Dinner, honoring leaders from both the construction and real estate industries.

The record crowd of 800 reflected the tremendous support from the BTEA's membership but also for our ambitious agenda. It also reaffirms the fact that the BTEA and the unionized construction industry are stronger than ever and critical to the future of New York City's economy and future.

Over the past several years, the BTEA has been successful in restoring its position as the voice of construction in New York City. Today, the BTEA is the largest contractor association in the city. It's comprised of 25 trade contractor associations, representing 1,200 construction management, general contractors and specialty contractor construction companies doing business in New York. These companies employ over 25,000 people in their corporate and field offices, as well as the 100,000 members of the building trades.

Further, the Construction Industry Partnership (CIP)--a joint initiative between the BTEA and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC)--has been a key force in increasing jobs and market share for our members and helping our industry compete in the growing local economy. The CIP also works on issues of mutual concern to labor and management, such as apprenticeship programs, legislative and regulatory reform and safety.

In fact, given an unprecedented number of construction related deaths in New York City over the last year, the BTEA and BCTC recently introduced a tough new three strikes and out penalty system that would ban repeat offenders from obtaining City building permits for five years. This proposal is part of a larger and more comprehensive set of construction industry reforms currently before the City Council that includes strengthened safety laws.

Toughening penalties for rogue contractors will serve to protect not only construction workers, who have been increasingly risking their lives, but also it will protect the general public from unsafe construction sites. These boom times call for increased resources, enforcement and tactics. This legislative package will go a long way toward making both the unionized and non-unionized sectors accountable for their actions.

This proposal calls for a three strikes penalty system for contractors found in violation of building codes when working without the required permits and licenses. It will mandate a 10-day stop-work order for a first offense; a 90-day stop-work order for second offense; and a ban on all future permits for five years upon the third offense.

Another element to the package is the creation of a Buildings Department' Safety and Responsibility Board that will issue an annual report card to the City Council with the names of contractors and owners who have had stop-work orders imposed as a result of this legislation.

An amendment of the current Site Safety Law will require the filing of a license and site safety plan on new construction and excavation on projects six to 14 stories and require a 20-hour site safety certification and filing of a site safety plan on new construction and excavation below six stories.

Furthermore, the proposal also contains a key requirement that all city contractors must show proof of general liability, Workmen's Compensation Disability and health care insurance in order to be issued a building permit.

If approved, funding will be provided for a 25-member Special Enforcement Unit whose sole responsibility is to make unannounced job site visits. This will ensure that ongoing work is being done with all appropriate permits and in accordance with building codes and other safety requirements.

Over the years, the BTEA has worked to establish itself as a one-stop shopping resource for our associations, real estate owners, public policy makers and elected officials for issues related to construction. We've built a reputation with public policy makers at City Hall and the State House in Albany as a critical organization whose voice is important on issues affecting not only our industry but the economy as well.

As we embark upon the city's most ambitious period of construction and economic development seen in generations, we look forward to continue being in the middle of history and New York's voice for construction. The greatest city in the world deserves to be built by the best contractors in the world. The BTEA: New York's Alliance of Union Contractors.

BY LOUIS J. COLETTI, PRESIDENT, CEO 

BUILDING TRADES EMPLOYERS'

ASSOCIATION (BTEA)