Robert Masciola, deputy director of the AFL-CIO Center for Strategic Research, describes the current efforts of the Building Justice Campaign. The campaign, which seeks to raise standards in the residential construction sector, currently is focused on Pulte Homes and its Del Webb subsidiary to increase Pulte’s accountability for the actions of its subcontractors. Until Pulte does so, the campaign is cautioning union members and retirees before purchasing a Pulte or Del Webb home.

Arizona and Nevada are two of the fastest growing states in the country as retirees flock West for warm weather and lower taxes. The retiree housing boom has been profitable for Pulte Homes, which owns Del Webb, the biggest national builder of “active adult” (55 years and older) communities.

The Building Justice Campaign, a partnership coalition of the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA) and the AFL-CIO, is urging current members and union retirees to think twice if they are considering purchasing a Pulte or Del Webb home. Retirees’ hard-earned money could be used to support subcontractors that deny workers safe working condition, adequate training, just compensation and respect on the job.

Without proper training and equipment, residential construction workers are placed in a vulnerable position in a dangerous industry. Workers building homes for Pulte and Del Webb in Phoenix and Las Vegas report they are pressured to work quickly and bypass safety precautions. They also say they often don’t have fresh drinking water in the hot desert heat and they lack adequate safety equipment. They are saddled with unaffordable health insurance, not paid overtime and have reported discrimination based on race and gender.

For nearly two years, Pulte, Del Webb and its subcontractors in Arizona and Nevada have refused to address the numerous problems in its housing developments throughout Las Vegas and the Phoenix Valley. 

Due to Pulte’s refusal to begin a dialogue with the Building Justice Campaign to properly address what we believe to be important issues, the campaign plans to reach out to union members and union retirees across the country to alert them to these appalling conditions and urge them not to support the injustice taking place on developments being built by Pulte and Del Webb.

We believe the company considers current and retired union members an important demographic and so we should not allow the company’s fancy marketing to fool us. We must make sure our retirement decisions don’t support injustice. It’s time to hold Pulte and Del Webb accountable. 

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