From electricians and plumbers to construction crews and warehouse workers, the demand for union labor is on the rise, driven by a wave of new development projects and a renewed emphasis on fair wages, benefits, and job security.
Across the board, membership is climbing, apprenticeship programs are thriving, and younger generations are finding new opportunities in trades once thought to be fading.
This revitalization is reshaping the landscape of Westchester’s workforce, offering stable, well-paying jobs to those willing to roll up their sleeves. We spoke to three unions across the county to learn more about what they offer and how to get involved.
Laborers Local 60
Laborers Local 60 has been proudly building, repairing, and maintaining the infrastructure of Westchester and Putnam counties for nearly 100 years. Its members are highly skilled, trained, and experienced in all aspects of infrastructure development both above and below ground. That includes everything from building roads and bridges to installing and maintaining water, sewer, drainage, and natural gas pipelines. (Another laborers’ local, LIUNA Local 235 in Elmsford, NY, represents construction laborers in Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties. Its members work on various construction tasks, including general building, heavy and highway, and commercial projects.)
Every year, Local 60 distributes just 100 apprentice application forms out of its training center in Brewster. Mike Cruz, apprenticeship coordinator, says that it’s “very competitive,” with over 200 people waiting in line for a chance at receiving an application.
“It’s the fact that getting a career in trades is coming back and has been over the last couple of years,” says Cruz. “Schools are getting on board with it and preparing to have students go towards the trades.”
Local 60’s apprenticeship program is particularly attractive because it’s sponsored by the New York State Department of Labor, making it even more reputable.
“It provides a profitable career where they can live and work in Westchester with a decent wage,” says Cruz. “It’s a hot option for young individuals”
The program leads to the opportunity to be a full journeyperson with a solid wage and good union benefits, with retirement accounts to look forward to.
Sheet Metal Workers Local 38
Those benefits aren’t exclusive to just Laborers Local 60, but span across all of the trades. Mike Keon is the training coordinator for Sheet Metal Workers Local 38 and describes that for those same reasons, they have seen growing interest.
“It’s an excellent pathway to a successful career,” says Keon. Besides the benefits of a living wage, Keon describes the advantage of being a part of a union where there is consistent camaraderie. With monthly meetings, members have a voice in their pay structure, where their next raise is going, and how extra money is spread. Having that opportunity can provide more agency and empowerment to the worker.
Sheet Metal Workers Local 38 provides the highest-quality craftsmen for residential, commercial, and industrial construction industries, which is made possible by its four-year apprentice training program. They accept applications practically every workday of the year. A short 25-question math test follows to help gauge skill level and then interested workers go from there.
“As sheet metal workers, we make what we install, as opposed to a carpenter who fabricates and buys materials off of a truck,” says Keon.
One of the biggest parts of the trade is HVAC work, where workers take the job from inception to testing. But there are many opportunities within Local 38, where you don’t have to do the same exact thing your entire career, which is why Keon highly encourages as many learning opportunities as possible. “We offer as much education as we can,” he says.
Carpenters Local 279
The education piece is growing in significance. Over the past years, Carpenters Local 279 has committed to expanding opportunities for workers to receive their associate’s in construction management from SUNY Sullivan or bachelor’s degrees from Alfred University using night classes. It’s necessary work when the average age of the union’s carpenters is currently 50 and the average age of retirement is between 55 and 57 years old.
“We are asking how we can prepare the next generation to be successful,” says Matt Ross, president of Carpenters Local 279.
The union is working on building that pipeline from the high school level, collaborating with local school districts to encourage students to enroll in Local 279’s preapprenticeship program that aligns with when they will graduate high school to be ready to start their first year as an apprentice right away. That required changing the union’s minimum apprentice age to 17 years old, one of just two programs in New York State that starts that young. Since its fruition three years ago, the program has seen around a 90% retention rate.
Similarly, Local 279 has built a program for women in the trade called “Sisters in Brotherhood,” open to all women who want to explore the opportunity of carpentry. Five years ago, across the union, they only had three women on the job. Today, that number is closer to 50.
The continued growth has provided an opportunity for more young people to see what trade work entails and if it’s for them.
“It shouldn’t be a last choice,” says Ross. “It should be a real choice.”
A career in construction might be right for you if:
- You enjoy the satisfaction of making things.
- You’re a good team player.
- You’re detail-oriented and take pride in a job well done.
- You want skills that transfer easily to other states or even countries.
Some Key Westchester Employers
- ECCO III Enterprises, Inc.
- KCM Contracting
- LeChase Construction Services
- KINGS Capital Construction
- Yonkers Contracting Co.
Need More Info?
Meet Roxanne Guerrerio, who runs a certified woman-owned construction business in Westchester.
Learn about Helmets to Hardhats, a program that helps veterans find apprenticeships and join trade unions.
Get details about the annual Hudson Valley Construction Career Day.
Find out how apprenticeships can help you launch a career right after high school (or at any age).
Related: Why the Mount Vernon Financial Empowerment Center Offers Free Services
