NYSLOF Joins Vigil for 29 Colleagues Who Died This Year

"There is no industry where 29 people would die, and everybody would just keep going on like it didn't happen," a local politician says.

Representatives from NYSLOF, Laborers' Local 79 and more than 100 construction workers were joined by City Council members at a candlelight vigil on the steps of City Hall to honor construction workers who were tragically killed on the job over the past year.

Colleagues remembered 29 fallen workers, including — most recently — 59-year-old Wilfredo Enriques, who was working on Williamsburg's old Domino Sugar Factory site when he fell six stories to his death.

Gary LaBarbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, said he has been working with Councilmember Jumaane Williams (representing the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Canarsie, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Flatlands, Marine Park and Midwood) to push worker safety legislation through City Hall that would mandate apprentice training for projects taller than 10 stories.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial to bring attention to work site safety issues and also call on NYC politicians to take action on unsafe, non-union contractors and make this city a safer place to work and live.