Edwin J. Viera

As construction on the new Buffalo Bills stadium gets underway, Western New Yorkers are preparing for the jobs the project will create. Along with myriad community benefits, construction will create 10,000 union labor jobs for the region.

Peter Capitano, business manager with Laborers Local 210, said provisions in the agreement create advanced opportunities for minority, women, and veteran owned businesses, and added having local workers develop the project is an important part of the labor agreement negotiations.

“Every other person who is dispatched whether it’s the labor, the carpenter, iron worker, carpenter, cement mason, bricklayers; whoever’s on that project comes from the local area,” he explained. “And, if it’s one of our local contractors that gets the contract, then the majority of their guys are all from our area.”

Another important element of the labor agreement is the alternative dispute resolution. This would put a hospital and doctors on site for workers who are injured on the job. This was a major part of the negotiations since it saves contractors millions, Capitano said. Injured workers could be brought to work and put on light duty, so they are not missing a paycheck.

While hiring local workers is one of the greatest goals for the labor agreement, it also presents a challenge. Given the amount of work involved with this project, Capitano projected it will not be an easy task.

“The reality of who can perform such a great task like this, I mean, you’re talking $1.5 billion, and some of these packages are $40 million, $50 million, $70 million, $100 million packages,” he said. “So, in order to be bonded and insured and have the right equipment and all that, it’s challenging.”

About 400 companies will be involved in the project with an assortment of bids for new stadium construction and demolition of the current Highmark Stadium. Work on the stadium is slated to end in 2026 and will cost Western New Yorkers $1.54 billion.