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December 1, 2011
Despite Promises, Apprenticeship Program Produces Only 15 Jobs at Atlantic Yards
James Caldwell, president of a community organization partnered with developer Forest City Ratner, defends record of employment creation.
Park Slope Patch
by Amy Sara Clark and Jamie Schuh
The president of a community group being sued for not producing Atlantic Yards jobs promised after an unpaid apprenticeship program defended his organization, saying that while the construction jobs didn’t come through, his group has put more than 400 people to work.
His comments come in response to a report today in the Brooklyn Paper that BUILD, a community group created to work with Forest City Ratner to provide local workers with Atlantic Yards jobs, has secured only 15 jobs at the site so far.
Last month, seven Brooklyn construction workers filed suit against Forest City Ratner and BUILD (aka Brooklyn United for Innovated Local Development), arguing that Ratner failed to deliver on promises of union cards and jobs on the Atlantic Yards site after they completed an unpaid apprenticeship program.
But in an interview this afternoon, BUILD president James Caldwell, defended his record, saying that the 400-plus jobs he’s found in such areas as building maintenance and retail may be lower paying, but some (such as maintenance and porter positions) do have unions of their own and nearly all have the advantage of being permanent.
NoLandGrab: And with the news that the Gucci Masters equestrian event will come to the Barclays Center in 2013, BUILD is about to announce its newest job-training program. 30 highest scores get union books!
Posted by eric at December 1, 2011 6:22 PM