Blog
Labor Shortage Coming in Skilled Trades
Wages are up and there are 91,000 more people in construction than a decade ago, but electricians, welder and ironworkers seem to be disappearing
Bidding Fights in North Country Extend to Albany
Critics say state’s call for “Project Labor Agreements” drives up costs for public projects
Ogdensburg City Council Votes to Award Wastewater Treatment Plant Contract, Lawsuit Considered by Contractors’ Group
OGDENSBURG — City Council unanimously voted to award a construction contract to Jett Industries of Colliersville for the $35.9 million wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation project, but also caught an earful from two separate parties skeptical about the process, Monday night.
Ogdensburg City Council Awards WWTP Project Bid, Despite Complaints From Non-Union Labor Representative
Ogdensburg City Council took a tongue lashing after accepting a $35.9 million wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation project bid from Jett Industries.
Amanda Bertram, vice president of public affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors, called the award shameful and told city councilors they should have heeded her warnings about entering into a project labor agreement just to please Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.
Editorial — Too Hot to Handle: Labor Pact Didn’t Save Ogdensburg Any Money on Project Bids
“It’s not shocking, this is a pattern that we have seen with public works projects across New York state that are bid with project labor agreements,” Amanda Bertram, vice president of public affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors/Empire State, said in a story published Saturday by the Times. “Across the board, they all come in millions of dollars over engineering estimates. This is a trend.”
Associated Builders and Contractors is a national trade organization representing those in the construction industry who don’t belong to unions. Ms. Bertram met with City Council members in November to discuss the disadvantages of using PLAs.
Contractors: High Bids on Project Are No Surprise
A spokeswoman for the state chapter of the national Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., said City Council members should not be surprised that bids for the city’s wastewater treatment plant came in over estimate.
Marijuana Decriminalization to Pass, Wage Mandate Stalls
On Thursday, Cuomo declared a bill expanding a “prevailing wage” requirement that would apply to larger construction projects likely dead. The law would have expanded the definition of “public works” in New York to include projects receiving more than 30 percent of their funding from the government – making those projects eligible for the wage requirement. Powerful building trades unions, who are among Cuomo’s most significant political supporters, had pushed the mandate this session.
Brian Sampson on Capital Press Room Discussing Prevailing Wage Expansion
Brian Sampson joined Mike Elmedorf, President of AGC on Capital Press Room to discuss prevailing wage
Statement by Brian Sampson, President of the Associated Builders and Contractors Empire State Chapter Regarding Assemblyman Bronson’s New Prevailing Wage Bill (A.8418)
The new Bronson prevailing wage bill is another sad attempt by the people we elect to do nothing more than appease the unions at the expense of the taxpayers.
Empire Chapter President, Brian Sampson Discusses The Devastating Impact of The New Prevailing Wage Bill
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