Local 79 is governed by an Executive Board, all of whom are elected by the membership. A number of departments carry out the daily operations of Local 79. These operations include negotiating and monitoring compliance with collective bargaining agreements, placing shop stewards, dispatching members, collecting dues, disbursing funds, grieving violations of collective bargaining agreements, and carrying out organizing work to ensure that all construction work is unionized. Use the links below to view the different departments.
Executive Board Members

Michael Prohaska
Business Manager
Anthony Vita
President
John Norbury
Vice President
Kenneth Brancaccio
Secretary-Treasurer
Joseph Cestaro
Recording Secretary
Barrie Smith
Sergeant-at-Arms
Chaz Rynkiewicz
Executive Board member
Anthony Williamson
Auditor
Kenneth Robinson
Auditor
Business Manager’s Department
The Business Manager is the recognized representative of Local 79. The Business Manager is responsible for making sure the affairs and business of the Local 79 are being properly conducted, appointing and supervising stewards, directing and supervising the activities of all Business Agents and Organizers, and for ensuring that the provisions of all collective bargaining agreements are enforced and respected.
Contact Information for the Business Manager’s Department:
Name | Title | Phone | Fax | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Prohaska | Business Manager | 212-465-7955 | 212-465-7903 | |
Anthony Vita | President & Asst. to the Business Manager | 212-465-7973 | 212-465-7903 | |
Steve Andujar | In-House Business Agent | 212-465-7932 | 212-465-7903 | |
Lori Peterson | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7965 | 212-465-7903 | 79@local79.org |
Bernise Martinez | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7972 | 212-465-7903 | bofford@local79.org |
Business Agents:
Area | Name | Phone |
---|---|---|
23rd St. – Down (Downtown) | Nick Chiarello | 347-266-9005 |
24th St. – 42nd Street (Eastside/Westside) | Kenny Robinson | 646-265-5602 |
42nd St. – 124th St. (Eastside) | Louis Kunda | 646-457-1025 |
42nd St. – 124th St. (Westside) | Kenny Robinson | 646-265-5602 |
125th Street & The Bronx | Barrie Smith | 646-628-2890 |
Brooklyn/S.I. | Eddie Medina | 646-265-5584 |
Brooklyn/Flatbush Ave to Queens | Lenny Anselmo | 646-385-4227 |
Queens | John Norbury | 646-265-5593 |
Demo (Night Work) – (42nd St -Up East/West) | Mike Robles | 347-266-0572 |
Demo (Night Work) – (42nd St -Down East/West, & Downtown Bklyn) | Manuel Cumbicus | 646-734-2196 |
SCA Work – (All boroughs) | Ebubedike Banks | 646-265-6406 |
Apprentice Coordinator | Wendy Webb | 347-886-2753 |
Secretary-Treasurer’s Department
The Secretary-Treasurer’s Department is responsible for receiving all monies payable to Local 79, disbursing funds in accordance with the Local’s constitution, and accounting for all monies received and disbursed. The Dues Department is part of this department and is responsible for collecting all membership initiation fees, monthly dues, and delinquency fees.
Contact Information for the Secretary Treasurer’s Department:
Name | Title | Phone | |
---|---|---|---|
Kenneth Branccacio | Secretary Treasurer | 212-465-7917 | |
Toni-Lyn Riccardi | Finance Manager | 212-465-7971 | triccardi@local79.org |
Gracie Acevedo | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7954 | gacevedo@local79.org |
Melissa Siciliano | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7976 | msiciliano@local79.org |
Maurice Wallace | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7939 | mwallace@local79.org |
Dues Department:
Name | Title | Phone | Fax | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Luz Holmes | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7962 | 212-465-7999 | lholmes@local79.org |
Ursula Kirwin | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7911 | 212-465-7999 | ukirwin@local79.org |
Jessica Pena | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7908 | 212-465-7999 | jpena@local79.org |
Hiring Hall
The main function of the hiring hall is to maintain the out-of-work list and to dispatch Local 79 members who are on the out-of-work list to work sites according to a set of established guidelines (Hiring Hall Rules) The hiring hall requires all members who are not working to re-register for the out-of-work list during the first five business days of each quarter. Quarters begin January, April, July, and October.
Contact Information for the Hiring Hall:
Name | Title | Phone | Fax | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Denise Echevarria | Hiring Hall Administrator | 212-465-7915 | 212-465-7992 | dechevarria@local79.org |
Anita Williams | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7919 | 212-465-7992 | awilliams@local79.org |
Susan Wong | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7969 | 212-465-7992 | swong@local79.org |
Irmina Kaczynska | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7918 | 212-465-7992 | ikaczynska@local79.org |
Grievance
The Grievance Department works to resolve issues related to Local 79 signatories not adhering to one or more provisions of the collective bargaining agreement to which they are bound. Members should not call the Grievance Department directly about worksite problems that may result in formal grievances. Instead, members should report the problem to their Shop Steward who will, in turn, report the problem to the Business Agent, who will then file a grievance. If necessary, Members can speak directly to their area Business Agent.
The Grievance Department also issues checks to members resulting from successful arbitration of grievances. Checks are distributed Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm.
Contact Information for the Grievance Department:
Name | Title | Phone | Fax | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jasmine Perdomo | Director of Grievance Department | 212-465-7943 | 212-465-7975 | jp@local79.org |
Carla Deschamps | Administrative Assistant | 212-465-7943 | 212-465-7975 | cdeschamps@local79.org |
Organizing
The Organizing Department main goal is to organize all workers in the five boroughs who work at the craft that falls within Local 79’s jurisdiction. The strategies employed by the Organizing Department to achieve this goal vary and include the following: establishing relations in communities through outreach and volunteer work; encouraging developers to use union contractors; helping non-union workers understand the benefits of unionized labor; getting legislation passed that guarantees that projects involving public funds, land, or tax abatements will pay prevailing wage.
Contact Information for the Organizing Department:
Name | Title | Phone | Fax | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chaz Rynkiewicz | Director of Organizing | 646-265-5674 | 212-465-7998 | chaz@local79.org |
John Wund | Asst. Director of Organizing | 347-344-7633 | 212-465-7998 | jwund@local79.org |
Angela Campbell | Asst. to Director of Organizing | 212-465-7912 | 212-465-7998 | acampbell@local79.org |
Justice Favor | Field Representative | 347-498-4101 | 212-465-7998 | |
Anthony Williamson | Field Representative | 646-265-5675 | 212-465-7998 | |
Mike Vatter | Field Representative | 347-658-2826 | 212-465-7998 | |
Jason Delgado | Field Representative | 646-455-9331 | 212-465-7998 | |
Robert Tiburzi | Field Representative | 347-266-3134 | 212-465-7998 | rtiburzi@local79.org |
Tafadar Sourov | Field Intern | 646-670-7020 | 212-465-7998 | |
Tierra Williams | Field Intern | 646-581-1570 | 212-465-7998 | |
Khalil Vasquez | Field Intern | 347-515-2651 | 212-465-7998 |
LOCAL 79
We’re Fighting for the Future of New York City Construction