Hudson Valley Lawmakers, Labor Leaders Urge Governor To Sign Brownfield Prevailing Wage Bill
MONTROSE, NY—A gathering of state lawmakers, union labor officials and the contracting community are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a brownfield prevailing wage bill that would require workers hired on brownfields projects to be paid prevailing wage on private contracts if the project cost is more than $5 million and at least 30% of the funding came from public sources (including tax credits).
The legislation (S.5379 / A.4914), which had passed with bipartisan support in the State Legislature earlier this year, now awaits the governor’s signature. The last time a prevailing wage bill was signed into law in 2022, brownfield remediation was excluded.
“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 New York State Sen. Pete Harckham who introduced the legislation in the State Senate.
Speaking at a press conference on Oct. 8 at the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) 137 Training Center in Montrose, Sen. Harckham added, “When it comes to ensuring these kinds of protections, there can be no cutting corners or skimping. But let’s remember (that) brownfield tax credits are public money, and recipients of these credits need to pay prevailing wages.”
Leaders speaking in support of the legislation represented Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), Operating Engineers Local 137, the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc. (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.
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.
However, brownfield remediation is dangerous work and requires the use of a trained and skilled workforce, the speakers noted. 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.
The 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.
PHOTOS CREDIT: Office of State Sen. Pete Harckham / Tom Staudter
Jeff Loughlin, president of the Building & Construction Trades Council of Westchester & Putnam Counties and Business Manager of the Operating Engineers Union 137, said, “It is time for the state to show that 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.”
CIC Executive Director John Cooney, Jr., 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 Gov. Hochul to sign this legislation promptly and stand on the side of the workers and taxpayers, and to hold developers accountable.”
Published: October 16, 2025.