Compiled by HARVEY WINJE
Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL), located at 3715 Chicago Avenue, announced on October 9th that the first developers have committed to join their groundbreaking Building Dignity and Respect (BDR) Program. The developers are Alliance Housing and Hope Community, two mission driven housing developers.
Background
For more than two years, workers have raised concerns about the crisis in the Twin Cities
non-union construction sector, including rampant wage theft and misclassification, dangerous
conditions, and a pattern of criminal activity. Workers have been calling on developers to join the
BDR program, which utilizes an independent monitoring model to ensure compliance with labor
protections on construction sites. The model, known as Worker-driven Social Responsibility, has
proven effective at eradicating abuse in complex industries like U.S. agriculture and international
garment industries. This event marks a historic milestone in workers’ efforts to ensure all workers’ rights are respected in the development process.
CTUL
CTUL is a worker-led organization where workers organize, educate and empower each other to fight for a voice in their workplaces and in their communities. CTUL partners with other organizations and leaders to build a movement to win racial, gender and economic justice, to identify the root causes of injustice, and to shift the balance of power between those who have it and those who don’t to improve lives in our communities for present and future generations.
Hope Community
Remarks on the Commitment to BDR from Hope Community by Will Delaney, Hope Community Co-Executive Director:
Hope is a nonprofit community development organization, 611 East Franklin Avenue, who believes in a comprehensive approach to community development. We do build affordable housing, but also focus on organizing, engagement, and community building. We are rooted in a strong belief in the power of people to shape their own lives, their communities, and the systems that impact all of us.
We are also rooted in listening to our community. We were drawn to the BDR program in large part because it is a program shaped by the voices and participation of workers. Workers who have bravely shared their experiences and come together to collectively push for change in the industry. I am proud to stand up here today alongside those workers to endorse the BDR program.
As an affordable housing developer, Hope knows all too well that costs are always rising, there is never enough subsidy available, and we are always being forced to look for ways to cut costs on our projects to get them finished. However, we know that we absolutely cannot cut corners when it comes to making sure the workers who build these projects – our neighbors and community members – are treated fairly, paid properly and on time, and have a voice to speak out against poor conditions. Upholding the rights and fair treatment of workers is absolutely aligned with our mission, and the BDR program will help us ensure we are living that out in our housing development work.
Alliance Housing
Alliance Housing, 2309 Nicollet Avenue, was born out of the vision of St. Stephens’ emergency shelter staff and residents who wanted to create tangible, long term housing solutions for homeless families and individuals. The organization was incorporated in 1991 and took advantage of vacant and available properties at low cost in South Minneapolis. Alliance continues to honor its history by developing housing solutions for homeless, poor and other individuals left out of market opportunities.
Editor’s Note: This announcement was compiled from a CTUL press release, notes by Will Delaney, and information found on alliancehousinginc.org.
