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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: IFPTE LOCAL 98, SPEAKER MENIN, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND LABOR LEADERS RALLY TO DEFEND WOMEN FEDERAL WORKERS AND KEEP ARMY CORPS IN NYC

NYC CLC, AFL-CIO
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NEW YORK, NY — IFPTE Local 98, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin Congressman-Elect Brad Lander, Council Member Susan Zhuang, the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, labor leaders and community allies rallied today outside 26 Federal Plaza in support of women in the federal workforce and against the proposed relocation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New York offices to New Jersey.

At the rally, IFPTE Local 98 released a new report, “Women in the Federal Government: Workers Under Attack,“detailing how attacks on the federal workforce disproportionately affect women and women-identifying workers.

IFPTE Local 98 represents 407 bargaining unit employees in the Army Corps’ New York District and North Atlantic Division. According to the report, 45% of New York-based employees indicated they would quit if the offices were relocated to New Jersey.

The report states that women account for 46.1% of the federal Executive Branch workforce, including 52% of professional positions and 52.1% of technical positions. It also warns that relocation decisions can disproportionately affect women by increasing commute times and caregiving burdens.

The Army Corps’ New York District manages a $1.1 billion program involving coastal resiliency, navigation, environmental protection, military construction and emergency response. The North Atlantic Division manages 119 ongoing projects across 22 congressional districts in New York State. 

“We stand with the workers of IFPTE Local 98 in their fight to keep the Army Corps of Engineers in New York City,” said New York City Central Labor Council President Brendan Griffith. “We’re committed to keeping this institution older than the nation in the five boroughs, building the critical infrastructure for the future of New York City.”

“For over two decades, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been an integral part of New York City, deepening dredges, strengthening bridges, and acting heroically after the September 11th attacks,” said New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin. “Yet, the federal government is threatening to relocate their office to New Jersey, which would have terrible consequences for these workers. The City Council stands with IFPTE Local 98, NYCCLC, and other allies in demanding that the federal government keep the Corps’ offices here.”

“New York City stands with IFPTE Local 98 and the civil servants of the Army Corps of Engineers’ New York District against this reckless plan to relocate their offices out of our city,” said New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “New Yorkers deserve transparency, not a process that strips good union jobs from our city in the dark. I stand with my colleagues in government, on both sides of the aisle, in calling on the federal government to keep the experts who do this vital work, from making our communities more resilient to safeguarding our harbors and waterways, right here in New York.”

Governor Kathy Hochul said, "The hastily planned effort to move the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District and North Atlantic Division offices out of New York would impact a significant portion of critical Corps staff who live in New York and could have detrimental impacts to critical shoreline and flood control projects. I stand with IFPTE Local 98 and the Army Corps of Engineers and urge our federal partners to pursue alternative measures that do not compromise the stability of these essential offices or the vital work they perform for New York."

“I’m proud to stand with the working women of IFPTE Local 98 in their fight to keep the Army Corps of Engineers in New York City. Women play a critical role in preserving our infrastructure and resiliency,” said Council Member Susan Zhuang. “And now more than ever, it’s essential we’re preparing for a more extreme future. We must stand with the workers at the front lines of this fight in the Army Corps.”

“Making sure that the Army Corps of Engineers stays in New York City is a gender justice issue,” said Jen Gaboury of the Department of Gender Studies at Hunter College and First Vice President of PSC/CUNY. “It’s not only that New York City does not want to shed federal jobs. Following their entry into this work during World War II, women workers have not only gained ground but lead in critical areas: studying and preparing our coast in an age of climate disasters and responding to emergencies, local and beyond. These are highly skilled scientists and planners and engineers. New York City labor is here to say: Why would we give these jobs away without a fight? These workers, the majority of whom are women, belong with us!”

“Those attacking the federal workforce think that the women that serve this country are disposable and not worth consideration,” said Daniel Kim, President of IFPTE Local 98. “The women of IFPTE Local 98 since Janice Lauletta-Weinmann first founded our union local have proved them wrong. I am proud to be fighting for the future of this country with some of the fiercest and most noble individuals that this world has to offer.”

“As a musician and union member who had the honor of playing in the U.S. Coast Guard Band, I know firsthand the value of my union sisters across our federal workforce,” said AFM Local 802 Financial Vice President Karen Fisher. “The proposed relocation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will inevitably fall hardest on women workers. That is unacceptable. AFM Local 802 is proud to join with our fellow unions in demanding that the Army Corps of Engineers halt the relocation, consult with the union, conduct a full review, and keep the Army Corps offices in New York.”

“Women are the backbone of the federal government and critical to our city, state, and region,” said Assembly Member Grace Lee. “I stand with the workers of IFPTE Local 98 in their fight to keep the Army Corps of Engineers in New York City, as it’s been since 1775. This is a bipartisan coalition that understands the value for the people of New York. We hope to see this work remain in the five boroughs.”

"The Consortium for Worker Education stands in solidarity with IFPTE Local 98 and the dedicated public servants of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who have served New York for generations,” said CWE Executive Director, Marco Carrion.  “Relocating these offices outside New York City without meaningful engagement with workers threatens hundreds of good union jobs and the expertise that supports critical infrastructure, flood protection, emergency response, and climate resilience across our region. We support the broad coalition of labor leaders and elected officials fighting to keep the Army Corps in New York City and urge federal leaders to permanently halt this relocation, work collaboratively with employees and their union, and invest in the skilled public workforce that keeps our communities safe and our economy strong."

The report calls on federal decision-makers to:

  • Halt the relocation until a full cost and consequence evaluation is completed.
  • Consult meaningfully with the union and ensure women workers are properly represented.
  • Conduct a transparent cost-benefit analysis of federal and private office space.
  • Review the effects on commuting, caregiving, recruitment and retention.
  • Keep the New York District and North Atlantic Division offices in New York City.

The coalition warned that relocating the workforce could drive experienced employees from public service, eliminate decades of institutional knowledge and weaken the government’s ability to complete critical infrastructure and emergency response work.

About IFPTE Local 98

IFPTE Local 98 represents 407 bargaining unit employees in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New York District and North Atlantic Division. Its members perform critical work involving infrastructure, coastal resiliency, navigation, environmental protection, military construction and emergency response.