FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2024
CONTACT: Gwennan Booth, Communications Manager, New York State Laborers’ LECET, 315.717.7379; [email protected]
A BUDGET THAT WORKS FOR WORKING NEW YORKERS -THANK YOU GOV. HOCHUL
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, longtime public champion of the unionized workforce, has once again passed a pro-worker, labor-friendly budget for fiscal year 2025. By expanding labor protections within the clean energy sector, implementing a statewide Project Labor Agreement for SUNY projects, prioritizing clean water infrastructure, allocating funding for wraparound services for those seeking careers in the trades and more, Governor Hochul has demonstrably reaffirmed her commitment to the men and women who build New York.
A STATEMENT FROM DONATO A. BIANCO, LIUNA VICE PRESIDENT AND NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL MANAGER:
“Our union fights nonstop for the protections, benefits and opportunities our members deserve. But we cannot accomplish all that we do without our strong leaders and partners in government, such as Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and the entirety of the New York State Legislature. Our union extends its gratitude to Governor Hochul and our elected leaders for productive and successful budget negotiations, and for ensuring working New Yorkers were prioritized throughout the process.
Each year we see major victories as labor protections, career opportunities and funding for key infrastructure projects increase – and this year is no different. Our members take immense pride in building SUNY’s campuses, the clean energy infrastructure that will benefit New Yorkers for years to come and more – and they deserve the higher standards now applied to these projects and beyond. This budget is a direct investment back into the unionized workforce whose contributions to our state are innumerable.
We also applaud Gary LaBarbera, the NYC Building Trades, Governor Hochul and the legislature for their tireless efforts to secure the passage of 485-X – legislation that ensures the men and women building New York City housing earn a living wage.
We look forward to continuing our work together this session to ensure LIUNA members will build New York from the ground up and deliver the safe, reliable results that New Yorkers have come to expect out of our highly-skilled workforce.
New York continues to lead the way when it comes to creating and protecting good paying, career-track jobs within the union construction industry; a benefit to all New York State residents.”
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ABOUT THE NEW YORK STATE LABORERS: The New York State Laborers’ Union represents over 40,000 members employed in the construction industry and other fields throughout the state. Our members are organized into more than 24 local unions and four district councils. We are a proud affiliate of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA). www.nysliuna.org.