Montrose, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham, several state legislators and labor leaders called today for the signing of a brownfield prevailing wage bill at a press conference held here at the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) 137 Training Center.

The legislation (S.5379 / A.4914), which has passed with bipartisan support in the State Legislature and now awaits the governor’s signature, requires that workers on brownfields projects be paid prevailing wage on private contracts if the project cost is over $5 million and at least 30% of the funding came from public sources (including tax credits). 

To see a video of the press conference, click here.

The last time a prevailing wage bill was signed into law in 2022, brownfield remediation was excluded.

Leaders from Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), IUOE, Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley (CIC), BAC Tile, Marble & Terrazzo Union Local 7, District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Lathers Local 46 and Carpenters Local 279 were among the speakers and attendees at the press conference.

“The hazardous work of removing dangerous pollutants and materials during brownfields cleanups needs professional attention from experienced workers who deserve the prevailing wage for their efforts,” said Harckham, who introduced the legislation in the State Senate. “Developers trying to complete this important environmental work need to make the right workforce investments to get the job done right. When it comes to ensuring these kinds of protections, there can be no cutting corners or skimping. But let’s remember: brownfield tax credits are public money, and recipients of these credits need to pay prevailing wages. Thank you to my colleague and partner Assemblymember Harry Bronson for his excellent work on this bill.”

“When tax breaks are issued on significant projects, we must also take into account the health and safety of the impacted community. Brownfield remediation is dangerous work, which requires the use of a highly trained and specialized workforce,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson, chair of the Assembly Labor Committee. “This legislation, which I introduced in the State Assembly, will ensure remediation work is done properly and safely by fairly paid, qualified professionals to safeguard taxpayer dollars and public health. I am proud to partner with Senator Harckham and my siblings in IUOE on this legislation that will protect workers, uplift communities, improve our environment, and bolster local economies.”

State Sen. Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am proud to join Senator Pete Harckham and our union brothers and sisters to urge Governor Hochul to sign this common sense, bipartisan legislation that will bring good union jobs to our communities, keep workers safe, and create healthier communities. As New York continues to address environmental challenges and the needs of our communities, we must ensure our workers have the support and protections needed to stay safe and healthy. I thank Senator Harckham for his leadership and the unions for their advocacy, and I urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law.” 

State Sen. Rob Rolison said, “When signed into law, this bill will ensure that properly qualified contractors performing critical brownfield remediation with public funds are paid fairly for the important work they do. Brownfield remediation is essential to redeveloping properties across New York, driving economic growth, and creating good-paying jobs for our communities. I urge Governor Hochul to sign this legislation so we can continue supporting our local workforce and the responsible redevelopment of the Hudson Valley.”

Assemblymember Dana Levenberg said, “Tax credits are public funds, and any project benefiting from public funds should be held to the highest standards. That includes prevailing wage standards. Requiring prevailing wage for brownfield remediation ensures fairness and just makes sense, given the nature of the work. New York State must ensure that workers benefit from the investments we are making in recovering these previously unusable parcels of land. In turn, such projects will become even more beneficial to the community at large, because we know that a rising tide lifts all boats. I urge Governor Hochul to sign this legislation ASAP.”

Assemblymember Steve Otis said, “Our brownfield cleanup program is an important economic development tool and a vital program to improve environmentally distressed sites. Taxpayers support brownfield cleanups through tax credits and other assistance. The skilled workers who remediate these sites deserve to be covered by our prevailing wage rules as required on most publicly supported projects. Cleanup projects often result in very successful developments for which the workers deserve fair compensation.”

Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky said, “We are united here today to let Governor Hochul know how important this legislation is and why it needs to be signed into law. The safe remediation of brownfield sites is crucial to the health of our residents and our environment. Workers who are qualified to do this potentially hazardous work deserve a prevailing wage, which will help assist with economic development statewide as well.”

Assemblymember Matt Slater said, “Brownfield cleanup projects are vital to protecting public health, restoring our environment, and driving local economic development. By guaranteeing a prevailing wage, we’re ensuring that these complex and critical projects are performed by properly trained, skilled workers who meet the highest standards of safety and quality. I want to thank my partners in government, Senator Harckham and Assemblyman Bronson, for their leadership in advancing this important legislation and I urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill as soon as it hits her desk.”

Assemblymember Chris Burdick said, “This important legislation ensures equity and fairness for the highly skilled workforce required to clean up brownfields safely and thoroughly. These cleanups must be handled with expertise, not only for reasons of public health, but for our state’s economic growth, enabling site development following the cleanup. I join in calling upon Governor Hochul to sign the legislation.”

According to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), brownfields are properties where a contaminant is present at levels exceeding the soil cleanup objectives or other health-based or environmental standards.  Brownfield remediation ordinarily entails removal or closing off points of contamination within a plot of land or property so that it can be used once again without causing a health risk. By mitigating the threat to public health and the environment from contaminants, land values are increased along with economic investments in local communities.

But brownfield remediation is dangerous work and requires the use of a trained and skilled workforce. Prevailing wage requirements promote the use of a highly-skilled and specialized workforce, serving to better protect other on-site workers and the general public, as well as increase overall project efficiency. 

This bill continues the state’s efforts to protect workers in the just transition regarding environmental cleanups. Additionally, prevailing wage requirements uplift communities by bolstering local economies: for every $1 spent on prevailing wage, $1.50 is infused back into the economy, supporting local businesses and municipalities across the state.

Jeff Loughlin, President of the Building & Construction Trades Council of Westchester & Putnam Counties and Business Manager of IUOE Local 137, said, “It is time for the State to show it cares about workers on these dangerous sites. Prevailing wages help protect workers and community residents. The State Legislature agrees: it passed this legislation two years in a row with bipartisan support. It is time for the Governor to sign this important safety legislation into law.”

John Cooney, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, said, “It is a false narrative that prevailing wages exponentially increase costs and prevent projects from getting off the ground. Paying workers the prevailing wage for covered brownfield remediation will only assist in getting these critical projects moving and completed on time and within budget.”

Todd Diorio, President of the Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council and the Business Manager of the Eastern New York Laborers’ District Council, said, “Prevailing wage requirements have a proven track record of providing job opportunities to local New Yorkers and bolstering economies across the state. Developers are receiving an exorbitant amount in public subsidies to remediate brownfield sites and should be obligated to provide a public benefit. We call on Governor Hochul to sign this legislation promptly and stand on the side of the workers and taxpayers, and to hold developers accountable.”