Assembly Resolution No. 528

BY: M. of A. DenDekker

COMMENDING Gary LaBarbera upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the 2017 Italian
American of the Year Award by the New York
Conference of Italian American State Legislators

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those individuals of true purpose and worthy accomplishment who foster
ethnic pride and strive to preserve their cultural heritage, thereby
enhancing the profile of cultural diversity which strengthens the fabric
of community throughout this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Gary LaBarbera upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the 2017 Italian American of the Year Award by the New York
Conference of Italian American State Legislators to be celebrated on
Monday, June 5, 2017, in Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, Since 2009, Gary LaBarbera has served as President of the
Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, an
organization comprising local affiliates of 15 national and
international unions representing 100,000 working men and women in New
York City; and

WHEREAS, Within weeks of assuming the esteemed position, Gary
LaBarbera embarked on ambitious negotiations for project labor
agreements (PLA) to provide labor cost savings to advance major public
and private projects at risk of stalling due to the economic recession;
and

WHEREAS, These vital efforts have resulted in project labor
agreements for $15 billion of public work with the City of New York and
the New York City School Construction Authority, saving taxpayers more
than $300 million; this includes a landmark PLA with the New York City
Housing Authority which provides men and women across the five boroughs
with a path to middle class careers in the building trades through their
pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs; and

WHEREAS, Gary LaBarbera also forged a historic agreement with the
City as part of its Build It Back program that ensures Sandy-impacted
residents will represent no less than 20% of those employed in
rebuilding efforts; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his work with the public sector, Gary
LaBarbera has helped bring approximately $25 billion of private work
under project labor agreements in New York City, creating thousands of
union construction jobs in the process; and

WHEREAS, Under Gary LaBarbera's leadership, the building trades have
become a model of inclusivity; of the 8,000 men and women enrolled in
apprenticeship programs as of 2012, 75% were residents of the five
boroughs and 65% were minorities; and

WHEREAS, Gary LaBarbera continues to work to expand these
opportunities to every corner of the city, having forged alliances with
community groups including ALIGN and New York Communities for Change;
and

WHEREAS, Prior to his tenure as President of the Building and
Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, Gary LaBarbera served
organized labor in several other capacities, including as President of
the New York City Central Labor Council, President of the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 16, and President of the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 282; and

WHEREAS, Having been actively involved in the Teamsters since the
early 1980s, Gary LaBarbera was one of the first members of Local 282 to
graduate from the Labor Studies Program at Cornell University's School
of Industrial Labor Relations in 1994; and

WHEREAS, Gary LaBarbera is Founder/Chairman of the Board of the New
York City Chapter of Helmets to Hardhats, an organization that has
placed over 500 veterans in careers in the construction industry across
the five boroughs since 2013; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, Gary LaBarbera is the President/CEO of the
Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills, which has placed
more than 1,600 high school students from underserved areas throughout
New York City into apprentice programs; and

WHEREAS, Currently, Gary LaBarbera is the Vice President of the New
York City Central Labor Council, Vice President of the New York State
AFL-CIO, and Vice Chairman of the New York Building Congress; and he
serves on the New York City Regional Economic Development Council and
the Exploited Worker Task Force; and

WHEREAS, Moving forward, under the direction of Gary Mr. LaBarbera,
the building trades will play a leading role in addressing challenges
shaping the country's future, including the development and
revitalization of its critical infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, Gary LaBarbera will focus on introducing new innovations to
the construction industry that will drive continued growth and ensure
the organization's affiliated unions remain equipped to successfully
compete in a rapidly changing environment; he will also continue to be a
strong advocate for worker safety and the expansion of protections for
both union and non-union construction workers; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his numerous business commitments, Gary
LaBarbera is actively involved in several charities and educational
programs, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of
America - Greater NY Council, the Ronald McDonald House and the
Metropolitan Outreach Project; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Gary LaBarbera upon the occasion of his designation as recipient

of the 2017 Italian American of the Year Award by the New York
Conference of Italian American State Legislators; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Gary LaBarbera.