Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer & Laborers’ Local 79 Hold Information Fair

On Saturday, September 24th, Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Officers and Members of Construction & General Building Laborers Local 79, and MTDC Officials from New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) hosted an informational fair at Queensbridge Park in Long Island City to celebrate the success of the Construction Management/Build Program and recruit people interested in joining the labor union.

Over the last three years, the Construction Management/Build Program (CM/Build) has employed nearly 200 NYCHA residents with the Laborers Local 79 and starting a career as a union laborer.  On Saturday, the NYCHA residents joined Council Member Van Bramer, Local 79 and representatives from The East River Development Association, Non-Traditional Employment for Women (NEW), the Mason Tenders Training Fund and other community leaders and organizations to celebrate the success of the past three years and to provide information and material on the CM Build Program and careers as a union Laborer. 

“I am honored to be a part of such a great initiative which gives people who want to work hard and create a better life, the opportunity to do so by joining the labor union with Local 79. I come from a union family, and want nothing more than to continue to keep the spirit of union laborers strong because they are the backbone of this country and community,” said Council Member Van Bramer.  

“The CM Build program has been a terrific success for all those involved”, said Mike Prohaska, recording secretary for Laborers’ Local 79. “Through the program we are able to offer good careers in construction to residents of NYCHA housing, while at the same time performing much needed renovations and rehabilitations in New York City public housing.” “Working with the community leaders, elected officials and the people from NYCHA has created a win-win situation for everyone,” concluded Prohaska.