“Immigrant Construction Workers Secure Victory in 4-Year Battle for Improved Workplace Safety”

New York City’s construction industry is notoriously dangerous, especially for immigrant workers on non-union construction sites. In 2022 alone, 24 construction workers died at construction sites across the city, a 20% increase from just the year before, with Latino workers making up a disproportionate number of the fatalities.

Although construction site death continues to trend upward, indigenous Guatemalan construction workers in Brooklyn have succeeded in making their workplace a lot safer.

…nearly 40 mostly indigenous Guatemalan demolition workers have been organizing to demand that their employer, Best Super Cleaning, increase their wages and provide a safer worker environment…

Last November, with the assistance of the Laundry Workers Center and progressive Jewish groups, the workers were able to successfully win their campaign, with management conceding to nearly all of their demands…

As part of a 2022 amendment to the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act), workers have the right to form a workplace safety committee, and an employer must recognize the committee within 15 business days…

During their nearly two-year struggle, workers alleged that Best Super Cleaning spied on them…

Best Super Cleaning could not be reached for comment…