Thursday, May 3, 2012

Teamster-built tower now tallest in NYC

The construction site. Note Teamsters logo beneath IBEW on upper right.

One World Trade Center is now the tallest building in New York City. Constructed to replace the Twin Towers, it surpassed the Empire State Building yesterday afternoon. When it's finished next year, it will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

You can see a cool video of the building here.

According to ThinkProgress,
The reconstruction of the World Trade Center was done almost entirely with union labor. More than 3,200 workers were involved in the reconstruction effort, and as American Rights At Work notes, labor unions have been connected to the site since 9/11:
It’s fitting: union members were among the first responders; union members served in the immediate cleanup; and now union members are part of the rebuilding.
When One World Trade Center is completed, it will stand exactly 1,776 feet tall to mark America’s independence. Its roof, at 1,368 feet tall, will match the height of the original World Trade Center’s North Tower.