Union members urge Community Board 11 to back full-union construction at proposed Morris Park hospital

Miguel Torres, a business agent for the New York City District Council of Carpenters, told Bronx Community Board 11 on May 28 that Monafure Health System’s proposed 20-story advanced-care pavilion at 2600 Morris Park Avenue should be built by union labor across all trades. “We want this job to be 100% union,” Torres said, describing the project as a “massive, massive project” with roughly 420 beds and a large emergency department.

Torres presented financial figures and criticized previous contracting decisions, saying public filings show the system holds substantial assets while construction workers on some projects are paid “$15 to $18” an hour, he said. Several other union members who identified themselves as carpenters spoke in support, urging the board to back the workforce’s request for living wages and safety standards.

Chair Cynthia Rodriguez said the board could not make a procedural motion during the public-comment portion but invited the union to supply a written template the board could consider at a later point. Board members debated whether any future land-use approvals or zoning relief connected to the project should be conditioned on workforce commitments, and asked the union to provide a draft letter that the board could vote on at next month’s meeting.

The board did not vote on a formal endorsement at the May 28 session. Instead, members asked the union to submit a proposed letter of support and details about whether the requested commitments would apply to all trades on the project and whether the project will require any future zoning actions that might come before the board. The item was placed on the calendar for follow-up at the June meeting.

Next steps: union representatives will be asked to provide a template letter and clarifying details; the board intends to consider a formal motion at its next full meeting.