The Building, Concrete, Excavating & Common Laborers Union Local No. 731
And
The General Contractors Association of New York, Inc.
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
Date: January 8, 2026
This Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”) documents the changes to the collective
bargaining agreement between the Building, Concrete, Excavating & Common Laborers Union
Local No. 731 (“Local 731” and “Union”) and the General Contractors Association of New York,
Inc. (“GCA”). The provisions of this MOA pertain to the collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”)
that governs the work performed by the Union. Unless specifically modified in this document, all
terms and conditions of the CBA that were in place on April 30, 2026 shall continue to apply.
The term of the agreement shall be from May 1, 2026 through June 30, 2033. The annual
monetary wage and benefit increase, effective July 1st of each year, is to be as per the following
schedule, based on wages and benefits in effect as of April 30, 2026.
July 1,2026 1st Year = 3.0% ($3.04/hour)
July 1, 2027 2nd Year = 3.0% ($3.04/hour)
July 1,2028 3rd Year = 3.50% ($3.55/hour)
July 1,2029 4th Year = 3.50% ($3.55/hour)
July 1, 2030 5th Year = 4.0% ($4.05/hour)
July 1,2031 6th Year = 4.0% ($4.05/hour)
July 1, 2032 7th Year = 4.0% ($4.05/hour)
The following language changes shall be made to the 2026– 2033 agreement. Unless
otherwise noted, all other provisions of the 2026–2033 Agreement remain as written:
1. Article HI, Section 2- Pre Job Conference– The parties agree to amend the pre-job
conference language to include projects in value of $50 million or more. Virtual meetings
or telephone calls are an acceptable means of communication.
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2. Article III, Section 5(b): Foreman of Laborers. The foreman shall be a representative of
the Employer and shall be in direct charge of the Laborers on the job. All foremen shall be
paid a weekly salary, which shall not be less than $2.50 $5.00 per hour above the prescribed
rate for Laborers in this Agreement. Laborers shall not be required to take craft supervision
from other union foremen, except where agreed upon at a pre-job conference.
3. Article VI– Work Jurisdiction – A, B, C & D
a) Item A13 : The application of epoxy for protection on all pre-cast and poured
concrete as well as for protection from the elements, whether applied by the use of
sprayers, brushes, or any other means of application;
b) Items All & C58: Installing, handling, loading, unloading, placing, hooking,
unhooking, lowering into ditch, aligning, leveling and jointing of corrugated pipe,
concrete pipe, plastic pipe, fiberglass pipe, and other nonmetallic pipe, pipe liners,
cast iron pipe, steel pipe, all ductile concrete lined pipe-and trenchless pipe to include
trunk and distribution mains, drainage pipe, sewer lines, catch basins inside and
outside property lines, or the first connection outside of the building penetration;
c) Items A28b & C30: Loading, unloading, and placing of barricades, and barriers and
temporary fencing when work is performed under the jurisdiction of Local 73 1 ;
d) Item A44: Flagmen;-excluding crossing guards and/er-pedestrian traffic managers:
see special note 3
e) Item A48: The use and operation of paving breakers whether operated by hand,
remote control, tablet, or any other means when performing work historically and
traditionally done by Local 731 and Local 29 including but not limited to used-m
chipping and breaking of masonry, concrete and pavement on foundations at and
below curb level, where reinforcing rod exists in concrete, the use of the torch as a
tool of the trade, shall be utilized in demolition;
f) Item A49A: The operating of mechanical concrete cutting saws, hand drills and
mechanical drills whether by hand, remote control, tablet or any other means when
performing work historically and traditionally done by Local 731 and Local 29;
g) Item A52: In connection with the use of, and operation of, paving breakers used in
chipping and breaking of masonry, concrete, rock and pavement whether by hand.
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remote control, tablet or any other means when performing work historically and
traditionally done by Local 731 and Local 29;
h) Item A53: The use of pneumatic tampers, all manual tampers, power tampers,
vibratory rollers whether by hand, remote control, tablet or any other means when
performing work historically and traditionally done by Local 731 and Local 29;
i) Items A55 & C86: The operation of power buggies, electric/battery operated
wheelbarrows, etc.; in carrying out work customarily done by laborers represented by
Local 731.
j) Items A58, B20, C99 & D24: Removal of hazardous waste, hazardous soil,
hazardous mold, lead abatement, and/or asbestos removal in conjunction with the
regular scope of work.
k) Items A61, B23, C96 & D27: All precast concrete work of any kind, excluding
precast beams and H-piles concrete piles. This includes but is not limited to precast
boxes, barriers, railroad ties, parking lot bumpers, manholes, electric boxes, catch
basins, duct banks/benches. sound walls, retaining walls, bollards, park benches, park
tables and flower pots.
I) Items A64, D26, C99 & D30: The removal and treatment of hazardous mold;
m) Items A68 & C102: Employees using pneumatic, hydraulic, electric and gaspowered tools including rivet busters and helldogs for the purpose of chipping,
drilling or hydraulic rock splitting of concrete, pavement, masonry, rock and other
materials of similar nature, whether operated by hand, remote control, tablet, or any
other means when performing work historically and traditionally done by Local 731
and Local 29;
n) Items A69 & Cl 03: Employees covered by this agreement shall install tiebacks and
tie downs, drill holes for soil solidification, utilize Air Tracs and Hydraulic Trac
Drills whether operated by hand, remote control, tablet or any other means when
performing work historically and traditionally done by Local 731 and Local 29 when
work is performed under the-jurisdiet-ion of Local 73 1. All other Employees who are
assigned work on tiebacks shall be standby personnel and cover only ancillary
equipment and provide service for that equipment.
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o) NEW ITEMS A71, B29, C109 & D33: Use of new technology and machinery that
is aimed at assisting the laborer (i.e. exoskeletons, remote control drills) to complete
the jurisdictional work historically and traditionally done by Local 731 and Local 29:
p) NEW ITEMS A72, B30, Cl 10 & 1)34: The application and placement of all new
materials in all work covered above that replaces all materials mentioned in this and
other sections of this agreement (i.e. material that replaces concrete).
q) NEW ITEM A73: All Laborers’ work involved installation of solar panels, racks,
broadband, and EV charging stations:
r) NEW ITEMS A74, B32, C107, D36: Application of bird/animal control equipment
and devices, including but not limited to bird spikes;
s) NEW ITEMS A75, B33, Cl 11 & D37: Operation of all tools and machinery
mentioned in this section, whether operated by hand, remote control, tablet, or any
other means when performing work historically done by Local 73 1 and Local 29;
t) NEW ITEMS A76, B34, C105 & D38: Tending the hose with the use of a vactruck;
u) Items B7 & DI 1: Tending and operating aerial lift equipment, grinding machines, all
kinds of walk behind of-stand-on lawnmowers and stumping machines historically
and traditionally done by Local 731 and Local 29;
v) NEW ITEMS B31 & D35: All landscaping work needed to be done in conjunction
with the installation of solar panels, solar racks, broadband, and EV charging stations;
w) ITEM C5: Placing, installing, aligning, gauging, grading and fastening of all rails,
contact rails and third rails;
x) NEW ITEM C5a: Manning/operating of track assembly machines and devices;
y) NEW ITEM C5b: Rigging, signaling, placing and removal of track panels;
z) NEW ITEM 18a: Sewer liners, whether applied by hand or machine;
aa) Item C25a: All subway and commuter rail station work inclusive of stations,
whether elevated, at. or below grade, including but not limited to….
bb) Item C25b: The application of all materials used to protect and strengthen rails, ties,
etc., from rust, erosion, corrosion, mold. etc. for non-beautification purposes.
Application includes but is not limited to sprayers, brushes, or any other means;
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cc) NEW ITEM C25c: All chopping work done in subway and commuter rail stations
and on the tracks, including but not limited to total demolition, selective chopping,
precision chopping:
dd) NEW ITEM C25d: All laborers work on demolition of subway and commuter rail
stations, mezzanines, platforms, tracks, catenary lines, whether at, above or below
grade;
ee) Item C43: The application of materials, regardless of type of material and method of
application (including but not limited to sprayers, brushes, or by hand), for
strengthening and/or protection from the elements for all precast and poured concrete;
ff) Item C48: Add commuter rails
gg) Add to Item C51b: Cleaning and oiling of all wood, steel and other forms for
concrete and the final strip when forms are no longer needed on site.
hh) Item C55: Grouting of all equipment; including all types of grouting material and all
methods of application;
ii) NEW ITEM C55a: The handling, mixing and placing of all grout, including but not
limited to precision grouting;
jj) Item C71a (sec item A48): In connection with the use of, and operation of, paving
breakers used in chipping and breaking of masonry, concrete, rock and pavement,
whether operated by hand, remote control, tablet, or any other means when
performing work historically and traditionally done by Local 731 and Local 29;
kk) Item C74: Power tampers and vibratory rollers controlled by hand, remote control,
tablet, or any other means historically and traditionally done by Local 73 1 and Local
29;
11) Item C79: All digging, concreting, demolition (including the use of a torch for
burning where reinforcing rod exists) and removal of existing and old concrete, old
pipes not to be reused, removal of concrete slabs (inclusive of pre and post stressed
concrete slabs) and other laborers’ duties on and for elevated highways, pedestrian
walks, docks, decks, bridges, ramps, runways over water, guard rails, barricades,
pumping stations, pollution plants, subways and commuter rails and other engineered
structures;
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mm) NEW ITEM C82a: All laborers work needed for the installation of solar panels,
solar racks, broadband, and EV charging stations;
nn) Item C89: Flagperson, firewatchers, signalperson on all construction sites and work
defined herein, including by not limited to, traffic control signalpersons at
construction sites. See special note 3: Grossing-guards-and/or Pedestrian Traffic
Managers are excluded;
oo) NEW ITEM C89a: All work in connection with the maintenance and protection of
traffic, including but not limited to the placing of signs, barriers, cones, etc.;
pp) Item C94: General cleanup at the job site on all work described in the above
iwmbered-ttems-this agreement, inclusive of but not limited to power washing,
vacuuming, blowing, graffiti removal, and sandblasting, whether manual, electric, or
gas-powered, exclusive of operator driven motor vehicles.
qq) NEW ITEM C94a: Final cleanup, excluding specialty cleanup, at the end of a
project when done by the contractor prior to turning the project over to the agency,
City, State or owner;
rr) NEW ITEM C98a: Microtrenching whether done by hand or machine operated by
hand or remote control, tablet, or any other means;
ss) NEW ITEM C106: All Laborers work defined herein with regards to telecom, fiber,
television, internet, broadband, electric, gas and any other type of utility construction
or reconstruction;
tt) NEW ITEM C108: Placing of all types of materials (including but not limited to
concrete. Styrofoam, etc.) to act as fill in q-decking;
4. Article VII Section 5 Conditions:
In case personal belongings of any worker shall be lost through fire or theft, the
Employer shall compensate each such worker for his loss, but such liability shall be limited
to a sum not to exceed Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00) three hundred dollars
($300.00) for each individual. Evidence of theft must be presented before this provision
becomes effective.
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5. Article VII, Section 8– Waiver of NYS, NYC or Any Governmental Paid Sick Leave:
Local 731 waives any right or entitlement for paid sick leave that may be provided
by any city, state or federal law or regulation.
The Union acknowledges the provisions of the New York Sick Leave Act (Labor
Law sec.!96-b) and further acknowledges that employees covered under this Agreement
receive comparable benefits in lieu of the sick leave through the signatory Employer’s
contributions to the Welfare Fund on behalf of employees.
The Union waives the provisions of the New York City Earned Safe and Sick Time
Act pursuant to NYC Admin. Code Section 20-9 1 6(a) and acknowledges that employees
covered under this Agreement receive comparable benefits in the form of the signatory
Employer’s contributions to the Welfare Fund on behalf of employees.
6. Article VII, Section 9 – Paid Family Leave
shall be paid-for- by deduetkms-from-the-Employees’ wages in an amount determined by the
administrator of the benefit.
Paid family leave in accordance with New York State’s Paid Family Leave Law shall
be provided as a benefit through the Welfare Fund. It is the intent of the parties that the
obligation of the Employer to otherwise provide this leave is satisfied through the benefit
provided through the Welfare Fund.
7, Article VIII, Section 8a & 8b Bonding
Section 8 A Bonding:
Such bonds shall be in the following amounts:
if the Employer employs I to 10 workers:
if the Employer employs 11 to 20 workers:
if the Employer employs 21 to 50 workers:
if the Employer employs over 50 workers:
$2*000 $50,000.00
$50,000 $75,000.00
$100,000$1 50,000.00
$100,000 $ 1 50.000 plus $2,500
5.000.00 for each worker in excess of 50 workers.
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Section 8 B Cash Alternatives
In the event the Employer has established to the satisfaction of Local 731 that it is unable to
obtain such surety company bond, it shall deliver to and deposit with Local 731 a cash
alternative of $2^500 $5,000 per Employee
8. Special Note 3– Flaggers & Pedestrian Managcr/Crossing Guard: The parties agree to
amend this section to codify the June 1, 2024 NYC Comptroller Memo regarding flaggers
on projects solicited on or after July 1 , 2024.
9. The provisions noted in this Memorandum of Agreement are subject to final verbiage review
by both the GCA and Local 73 1. Various format and numbering changes will be made to
conform provisions in the final agreement.
10. This Memorandum of Agreement is subject to ratification by Local 731 and by the
Executive Committee of the GCA.
THE GENERAL CONTRACTORS
ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, INC.
Executive Director
THE BUILDING, CONCRETE,
EXCAVATING & COMMON LABORERS
UNION LOCAL NO. 731
Carmine D’Amato
Business Manager
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Giovanni Laucella
President
Dominic J. Valdner
Secretary-Treasurer
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