Compliance6 min read
Understanding the NYC Union Registry
New York City's construction industry is organized by dozens of distinct trade unions, each with its own local number, jurisdiction, rate schedule, and benefit fund structure. The WageHound Union Registry is a reference tool for understanding who governs which work — and what they cost.
How NYC Unions Are Structured
NYC construction unions are organized at three levels:
International Union
IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)
The national parent organization that sets overall policies and standards but does not negotiate local rates.
District Council / Regional Body
NYC District Council of Carpenters
An intermediate body that may coordinate between multiple locals in a region and often administers joint benefit funds.
Local Union
IBEW Local 3, Laborers Local 79, Plumbers Local 1
The local is where the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is negotiated and wages are set. The local number is the key identifier in rate schedules.
In practice, when you see “IBEW Local 3” on a prevailing wage schedule, it means the specific rate negotiated by Local 3's CBA with the New York Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) applies to all work within that local's jurisdiction.
What the Registry Shows You
For each union, WageHound displays:
- Trade: The craft category — Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter, Laborer, Ironworker, etc.
- Local Number: The specific local union identifier. Multiple locals can cover the same trade in different boroughs or specialties (e.g., Local 3 covers inside electrical; Local 25 covers sound and communications work).
- Jurisdiction: The geographic or work-type boundary within which this local's CBA applies. Jurisdiction determines which union has labor relations authority over your project scope.
- Primary Rate: The most recent Journeyman/Journeyperson rate with benefit breakdown. WageHound displays base wage, total benefits, and the total employer package as three distinct figures.
- Verification Status: Whether the rate has been cross-referenced against the published NYC Comptroller or NYSDOL schedule. Unverified rates may be pending review.
- Rate History: A log of all historical rates recorded for the union, accessible via the collapsible Rate History section on the union detail page.
Jurisdiction: The Most Important Field
Jurisdiction is not just geography — it defines which union has the contractual right to perform specific work on your project. Getting jurisdiction wrong can trigger grievances, work stoppages, or jurisdictional disputes between trades.
Common jurisdiction considerations in NYC:
Borough boundaries
Some trades have separate locals for Manhattan vs. the outer boroughs. Plumbers in Manhattan may be Local 1; work in Brooklyn or Queens may fall under a different local with a different rate.
Specialty vs. general trade
Electrical work is divided between inside wire (Local 3), telecommunications (Local 25/3CX), and utility work. Mechanical insulation is separate from plumbing. Fire sprinkler fits are distinct from pipe fitting.
Building type
Commercial, residential, and institutional buildings can trigger different CBAs even for the same trade. A carpenter working on a residential job may fall under a different CBA than one doing office fit-out.
Project Labor Agreements (PLAs)
On projects with a PLA, the labor jurisdictions and classifications are explicitly defined in the agreement. The PLA supersedes individual CBA jurisdictions for the duration of the project.
Reading the Benefit Package on a Union Detail Page
The union detail page breaks down the full benefit stack with a visual bar showing the proportion of base wage vs. benefits. Here is what each line means for compliance:
Annuity
Employer contribution to a worker's individual deferred compensation account. Must be remitted to the union's annuity fund — not payable as cash in lieu on a union project.
Pension
Contribution to the defined-benefit pension fund. Underreporting here creates back-pay exposure to both the individual worker and the fund trustees.
Welfare / Medical
Health insurance fund contribution. On projects where workers lose coverage due to an employer failing to remit, the liability can be significant.
JIB Assessment
Joint Industry Board assessment — specific to certain trades (notably electrical). Funds training, safety programs, and industry operations.
Vacation & Holiday
Some locals maintain a vacation fund to which employers contribute per hour worked; the fund distributes payments to workers during vacation periods.
Educational / Cultural
Apprenticeship training and workforce development contributions. Required on prevailing wage work.
Data Governance: How WageHound Maintains Accuracy
All union rates in WageHound are sourced from official government publications:
Each rate record carries a Verified flag once it has been cross-referenced against the published schedule. Unverified records are clearly marked and should be confirmed independently before use in formal compliance submissions. The source URL is linked directly from each union's detail page.
✓ Using the Union Registry for Project Setup
- Identify every trade that will perform work on the project.
- Look up the applicable local for each trade using the Registry — confirm jurisdiction matches your project location and building type.
- Note the effective date of each rate — confirm rates are current before using in an estimate.
- Download or note the source URL for each rate for your compliance file.
- Flag any unions with unverified rates and cross-reference directly against the Comptroller or NYSDOL schedules.