NYS Building Trades Unions Rally for Prevailing Wage in Albany

The New York State Building & Construction Trades Council (BCTC) held a rally outside the State Capitol building in Albany on Wednesday, May 28th, demonstrating strong support from the rank and file for expanding prevailing wage requirements on construction projects.

The rally specifically centered on two pieces of legislation that are currently in committee in the State Senate and Assembly. A6708/S6378 being proposed by Assemblyman Harry Bronson and State Senator Jessica Ramos would reform Section 224-a of New York’s Labor Law, which was enacted in 2020, to require prevailing wage on private construction projects getting 20 percent of the total cost in public funds from taxpayers and abolish the ineffective Public Subsidy Board. A2747/S2536 being proposed by Assemblyman Bronson and State Senator Robert Jackson would add off-site prefabrication for public works under prevailing wage requirements in Section 220 of New York’s Labor Law.

According to a Siena College Research Institute pollcommissioned by the NYS BCTC, over 70 percent of voters support such legislation, and 66 percent support prevailing wage on all private construction projects receiving taxpayer subsidies.