Labor Spotlight: A Q&A with I. Daneek Miller

City & State: Given the state’s decision to end the 421-a tax abatement if a deal isn’t reached by January, what sort of viable options do you think the administration has to pursue its affordable housing agenda?

I. Daneek Miller: Any city administration retains tremendous tools to build and leverage private and nonprofit development of affordable housing. This includes zoning and land-use tools, financing, reduction on non-property taxes. It makes sense to work with organized labor to ensure qualified and competent folks build safe and secure affordable housing that lasts.

C&S: What do you think the proposed agreement with the Uniformed Firefighters Association means for the arbitration case with the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association?

DM: Pattern bargaining plays a role, but each union seeks correctly to address those circumstances unique to their members’ duties and needs. That remains for the collective bargaining process. As a former labor leader, I recognize my role as a legislator is to not inject myself into that process. What I do know, and studies demonstrate, is that fairly compensated workers remain very productive and loyal.

C&S: What does the administration’s goal of a $15-an-hour minimum wage mean for personnel, including contracted workers?

DM: We need to understand that contracted workers – even the nonprofit agencies – represent some form of privatization. Generally, better pay cuts into the profits of management and ownership. A goal of a $15-per- hour minimum wage helps lift folks who often lack the ability to organize successfully for a fair and honest wage. Our goal should be to lift people up and not protect the enrichment of a few, especially when public dollars are involved. We need to assure agencies responsibly compensate workers performing critical public services.