Islip fails to vote on apprenticeship plan
Jim Castellane, President of the Nassau and Suffolk Building Trades Council, in Hauppauge, voices his stand for the proposal while a group of military veteran union workers stand behind in support. (Dec. 13, 2011) Credit: Steve Pfost
In a blow to organized labor, the Islip Town Board Tuesday night reserved decision on a measure that would have required state-approved apprenticeship programs on all large-scale construction jobs in town.
After 31/2 hours hearing almost 60 speakers, outgoing Democrat John Edwards asked that the measure be tabled. The board's two Republicans, Steve Flotteron and Trish Bergin Weichbrodt, voted with him.
Before the vote, Edwards said at the public hearing that he was uncomfortable with the language of the proposed local law.
Gene Parrington, the Democrat who proposed the measure and a member of local IBEW, explained his resolution was aimed at keeping local people employed locally.
"This is about safety," he said. "This is a common-sense approach. We have companies coming in from Kentucky and Ohio and . . . taking money out of here."
Edwards questioned why the policy should be mandated and said he was concerned about the town's authority to enforce the law on private developers.
Clearly disappointed after the 3-2 vote, Parrington said: "The town and county . . . need sales tax and property tax relief, and we need the safe, good-paying jobs for our young people that apprenticeship programs bring."
Edwards, who had come under intense lobbying from the Democratic Party, told Newsday he saw both sides of the argument. "It's really difficult," he said afterward.
Outgoing Supervisor Phil Nolan appeared let down. He urged Edwards during the meeting to meet with him Wednesday to try to address Edwards' concerns in the waning days of his administration. But because of the public notification process, it could be difficult for the board to consider an amended resolution by year end.
Supervisor-elect Tom Croci has withheld his position on the issue but had asked that the board postpone consideration of the policy. From Jan. 1 he will lead a new 5-0 Republican/Conservative town board.
David Wolkoff, son of developer Gerry Wolkoff, whose Heartland Town Square project has languished while he has sparred with trade unions over deals to work the site, said at the hearing that his company had delayed two 150,000-square-foot projects because of the proposed law.
The Wolkoffs, along with small-business owners, argued the law would increase their labor costs and drive development from town.
They were countered by pleas from union members, including veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, who said apprenticeship programs provided a path to stable paying jobs and a way to stay on Long Island.
Earlier in the day, State Supreme Court Justice Jerry Garguilo ruled against a bid to stop the public hearing.
