Labor, business, government: Building America together

At Monday’s Monroe Town Board meeting, we invited organized labor leaders and business owners working with Monroe to speak about their labor issues. Finding fair and acceptable contract terms that business and labor can agree to while protecting taxpayers rights is the centerpiece for a healthy public-sector economy.

Billed as a “labor-government- business symposium,” it marked the first time in Orange County that a town board held such an event.

The main topic was the town’s new garbage contract. It has generated savings to the average town homeowner in the amount of $300-$600 annually. Marangi Carting provides the services with Local Laborers’ 108 supplying union labor. Contract disputes, however, prompted the town to host the event in the hope that an open forum would provide a salient discussion.

Paul Ellis Graham, president of the HVALF/AFL-CIO, reminded the audience how the Democratic board members have picketed with labor throughout the years. He reminded us when Gov. Walker of Wisconsin destroyed collective bargaining in February 2011, Democratic town board members marched with area labor to show support for labor. In March, the Town Board passed Orange County’s first resolution supporting the rights of the worker to collective bargaining. With the exception of Woodbury, all of villages and towns refused to draft similar legislation. Spark plug local 108 leader Mike Hellstrom, representing the carting employees, urged the town to look at how health care contributions, unfair terminations and right to organize issues were being compromised by Marangi Carting. Marangi Carting’s attorney stated that Marangi is a union shop and that the workers earn above the median income in Orange County.

Showing that union labor and business together provides the fuel for a more healthy economy, James Taylor from Taylor Biomass brought to the discussion how clearly defined business and union labor practices drive a successful economy. At the end of the meeting, the Town Board passed a contract with Taylor Biomass to accept the town’s garbage and convert it into renewable energy. This project will create 400 union construction jobs and approximately 85 permanent union jobs.

Business, organized labor and government have and will continue to grow America’s economy with the free enterprise system. Monroe’s Town Board intends to be part of a recovery which will provide good paying jobs here in the Hudson Valley. Sincerely,

Dan Burke Rick Colon Gerry McQuade

Harley Doles Town of Monroe Councilmen