Earlier this year our Executive Director, Carol Ciesielski, formed a Coalition of Trade Associations to address misclassifying employees as independent contractors and the entire underground construction economy in New Jersey.
In addition to Masonry Contractors of New Jersey, the other associations that currently comprise the Coalition are Associated Construction Contractors of NJ (ACCNJ), South Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association (SJMCA), Employing Bricklayers Association (EBA) and the NJ Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors (PHCC).
The Coalition’s contractor members alone have reported a loss of approximately 30% of their revenue each year in the private sector due to unfair and unlawful business practices that comprise the underground construction economy. Qualified, responsible contractors, whether they are union or non-union, are finding it increasingly difficult to compete in this business climate. Many Association members have been forced to close their doors. Unscrupulous developers and contractors are getting rich off the backs of their workers, law-abiding contractors and New Jersey’s economy (New Jersey is robbed of tens of millions of tax dollars each year) while honest, hard-working legitimate contractors and their employees have lost the means to support their families, their homes and health insurance benefits.
The Coalition mailed hundreds of letters to legislators, aides and staff on October 17th, detailing some of the data published in a study completed by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University and the July 9, 2019 report Governor Murphy released on Employee Misclassification. The responses received support our efforts to protect workers’ rights, New Jersey’s economy and to level the playing field for qualified, responsible contractors.
Legislators Reacted & Responded to the Coalition:
Senator Troy Singleton (7th District) in a recent news article called for crackdown on employee misclassification. Read Article from Insider NJ
Assemblyman Ralph R. Caputo (28th District) issued a press release calling for crackdown on illegal abuse of workers in the construction industry. Read Press Release
The Governor, the Legislature and key State departments have started to take action and we commend them for that. However, more work needs to be done.
The Coalition will continue to follow this issue and looks forward to future discussions with legislators and key State departments.