By Al Barbarino
Edward J. Malloy, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York from 1992 to 2008, has died. He was 77 years old.
Malloy is credited with changing the face of the construction industry at the city and state level by spearheading private economic development and public infrastructure initiatives.
He promoted measures to contain construction costs and maximize employment opportunities for union members, most notably advancing Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for major public works projects, which are now widely used.
In 2004, Malloy led efforts to negotiate the first PLA for major public works projects in New York City with the School Construction Authority, providing billions of dollars in renovations to public school buildings from fiscal years 2005 through 2009.
The effort saved taxpayers more than $221 million, according to the Building and Construction Trades Council, serving as a blueprint for a current PLA negotiated in 2009 with the City of New York and the School Construction Authority projected to save taxpayers more than $300.
“The Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, its local affiliates of 15 national and international unions and their 100,000 members join in mourning the passing of Edward J. Malloy,” read a portion of a statement from Gary LaBarbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “He was a true icon within our industry not only in New York City, but throughout the United States. His leadership will be truly missed.”
LaBarbara added: “Edward J. Malloy was respected by all who knew him as not only a tireless advocate for working men and women, but an advocate for our great city and state. His hard work and wit allowed him to pass easily from union halls to business boardrooms and the chambers of government.
“This dedication and personality served members of organized labor well for decades as he worked to promote job creation, economic development and fairness. His contributions are immeasurable and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for them. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family on behalf of an entire industry.”
Malloy was a strong supporter of diversity in the unionized construction industry’s work force, helping with the launch of programs designed to provide access to building and construction jobs to youth, veterans of the U.S. Armed Services, minorities and women.
“Today we mourn the passing of Ed Malloy, who for decades stood up for the working men and women of New York and helped build the state into the great place it is today,” read a statement issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo. “For the years that Ed served as president of the New York City and New York State Building and Construction Trades councils representing over 200,000 union members, he worked tirelessly with public officials, investors, and labor leaders to get major infrastructure projects off the ground and create jobs in every corner of the state.”
“Above all else, Ed was a gentleman and a true New Yorker,” he added.
In 1992, Malloy led efforts to create Project Pathways, a program through which hundreds of minority youth gained unionized apprenticeships in the construction industry. In 2001, the project was transferred to a private, not-for-profit corporation named Construction Skills 2000, which later renamed the project The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills in Malloy’s honor.
The program has placed more than 1,300 youth, public housing residents and other city residents into unionized apprenticeships, 89 percent of whom represent minorities, according to the Building and Construction Trades Council.
In addition to his position as president of the BCTC, Malloy served as president of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council from 1992 until his retirement earlier this year.
Previously, he served as president of the Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local Union 638, where he began as an apprentice, rose to journeyman and was a longtime member. He was also a U.S. Army veteran.
A wake was held on May 17. A funeral mass will be held tomorrow (Friday, May 18) at 10:00 am at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, 5th Avenue between 50th-51st Streets, New York, NY.
In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations to either St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the NY Helmets to Hardhats Program.
