Related Companies and Union Labor Announce a Truce

From left: Gary LaBarbera, Bruce Beal, Jr.

NEW YORK CITY—Related Companies and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York have announced an agreement to end their public disputes, to move forward with building Hudson Yards.

As part of the truce, Related agreed to withdraw its lawsuit filed in March 2018 against the BCTC and its president Gary LaBarbera. The complaint had accused the union organization of corrupt practices. The BCTC represents 100,000 union members in New York City and local affiliates of 15 national and international unions. They had responded that the real estate company was retaliating against the #CountMeIn campaign where union members were banding together to oppose open-shop and non-union construction. The effort resulted in vocal street demonstrations and protests. The conflict had escalated in the court of law and the court of public opinion.