Labor Isn't Working

[Prologue: For 30 years I worked in a union trade, first with the United Transportation Union Local 77, and later with the Association of Commuter Rail Employees Local 1. It was a very satisfying career in transportation that provided good benefits. I see the same scenario unfolding at Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport.]

In "Joe Carfora's Dangerous Game," I recounted how East Haven mayor Joseph A. Carfora stood before the microphones and the cameras at Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport on a fine spring day in 2021 and pledged that the proposed new passenger terminal slated to be located on the East Haven side of the field would "be built by East Haven businesses and East Haven labor."

One picture from that day showed members of the Connecticut Building and Trades Council present at the ceremonies.

Fast forward several months, when 50 members of the 10,000 Hawks airport opposition group assembled in front of East Haven Town Hall to protest the project.

And just like that, Mayor Carfora had concerns about the impact the airport's development would have on the town. Suddenly, East Haven businesses and East Haven labor were so far back in his rear view mirror as to not even be visible!

This coming from a mayor who wants to increase traffic for his town...until he doesn't.

The proposed runway extension and terminal/parking construction are part of a $100 million commitment on the part of Avports, the airport's management firm. And the additional jobs wouldn't end at construction. Various airport-related and airport support services would also be needed.

If I'm a union leader and there's a $100 million project needing skilled labor, I know I'd sure want a piece of that pie. And I'd be pushing for its implementation.

And yet...

Yet, the New Haven area's labor community is mysteriously silent.

Take New Haven Rising, for example. In their "Who We Are" section of their website, they proudly proclaim they are committed to "winning economic, racial and social justice" to improve the lives of New Haven residents. So why aren't they speaking out against a practically all-White group of people who equate an improved Tweed with the area becoming "another Newark," and besides that already have jobs or are retired from their jobs and are opposed to something that would provide not just jobs, but careers? Many careers! Or is New Haven Rising just going to wait until Save The Sound's appeal of the airport's Environmental Assessment is decided, and then make demands?

Meanwhile, in East Haven, there is Local 455 of the Laborers International Union of North America, located right near Tweed, whose business manager has at least expressed some positive airport tweets on his X account. And I have sent him several direct messages exhorting him to take a more visible stand in appealing to Mayor Carfora to work with airport management. I would think that Local 455 could muster at least 50 people to assemble in front of Town Hall with signs saying "You Promised," and "We're Ready To Build That Terminal."

Now of course, Tweed's opponents just love to pooh-pooh the potential for jobs at Tweed.

"They're minimum wage jobs," they say. "They're part-time jobs," they say. How do they know this, not having worked in the field? Your guess is as good as mine.

But let's assume for the moment that they're right. (They're not, but let's assume they are.)

Even if they're minimum wage, do you know of anyone who has made a career out of working minimum wage jobs? Because I sure don't. The purpose of a minimum wage job is to introduce to the workplace someone who has never held a job to begin with. It's up to them to gain the experience and the "work creds" to advance up the ladder. Would you pay someone $40 per hour to work a job about which they know nothing? I know I wouldn't.

Interestingly enough, the same folks who claim the airport's jobs are "minimum wage/part time" had nothing to say about the Chipotle, Five Guys and Starbucks franchises coming to East Haven. I guess those minimum wage and part-time jobs have much more of a future than, say, working for an airline.

Apparently, Tweed's opponents don't take into account the number of union jobs that service not only the airlines, but the airport as well. Pilots, flight attendants, counter and baggage staff, maintenance and security, just to name a few. Avelo's pilots alone start at $240 per hour. Avelo's flight attendants average 24.35 per hour, and as high as $30 per hour, with additional arbitraries. Hardly "minimum wage."

Oh, and the airport has also hosted groups of school students from both New Haven and East Haven who may be interested in aviation-related careers, much to the consternation of 10,000 Hawks leadership. Who wants to drive to work at Bradley, 60 miles away?

Truth be told, I don't know why organized labor doesn't endorse Avport's project. They can certainly do so every month at the Airport Authority's meetings, either live or on Zoom, and through the mainstream and social media.

And why don't (or can't) remind Mayor Carfora that his Democrat Party prides itself on being "the party of the working man"?

At least when Mr. Carfora's Republican predecessor Joe Maturo was in office, the unions knew what they were getting. Mayor Maturo spotted what was either a manhole cover or catch basin, I forget which, that was askew in his travels and stopped to fix it himself, incurring the wrath of the town's municipal employees union which said in no uncertain terms that it was a job union employees should have performed.

The Tweed project is one that will provide a number of well-paying jobs, now, and far into the foreseeable future.

So, where are you, Teamsters? Where are you IBEW? Where are you, UNITE HERE? Where are you, SEIU?

Stand up and speak out. Make your voices heard.