By JOHN COONEY, JR., and TODD DIORIO

Westchester County didn’t build itself. Generations of union labor did—brick by brick, beam by beam. They’ve paved our roads, built our train stations and constructed the bridges that connect our communities. Union labor hasn’t held Westchester back; union labor has powered its growth and made it safer by building it to last.

As leaders of a Hudson Valley–based business coalition and a regional laborers’ union, we come to this issue with different perspectives but with a common purpose: building a stronger Westchester. One of us represents hundreds of employers working to invest, grow and hire in the region. The other represents the skilled men and women who bring those projects to life safely, efficiently and with pride. Together, we understand that long-term economic success depends on a balanced partnership between business and labor, grounded in fairness and shared responsibility.

We believe that the workers building our future—especially on projects backed by significant taxpayer dollars—should earn a fair wage. When public money supports private development, the public deserves more than just promises. It deserves real returns in the form of quality construction and middle-class careers and employment opportunities that boost our local economies.

That’s exactly what pending legislation to New York’s Labor Law – requiring prevailing wages on private construction projects that receive at least 20% public funding—will deliver. The proposed changes (A6708/S6378) would also eliminate the ineffective Public Subsidy Board, which has too often failed to protect taxpayer interests.

Critics like the Business Council of Westchester claim this bill is “anti-business.” The group warns that the new measure could stall development, citing concerns about Westchester’s tight housing market. We share those same concerns—but we reject the false choice between fair wages and more housing. We can, and must, have both.

Let’s be clear, paying prevailing wages doesn’t break project budgets. Labor represents just 25% of total construction costs, meaning fair pay has only a modest effect on overall expenses. The benefits, however, are far-reaching. Workers who are paid fairly don’t just build, they buy homes, shop locally and support small businesses. Every dollar in prevailing wage earnings returns approximately $1.50 to the local economy. These are dollars spent at neighborhood stores, invested in schools and returned to public coffers through taxes.

On the other hand, when workers are underpaid, it’s the taxpayers who pick up the tab. In states without prevailing wage laws, construction workers are nearly 40% more likely to rely on public assistance. And without clear wage standards, these projects are far more vulnerable to wage theft in which workers are paid in cash, denied overtime, or even paid below the minimum wage. Too often, this exploitation targets those least able to protect themselves, including immigrant and low-income laborers. A less-than-area standard rate of pay, unfair as it is, robs workers of their dignity and earnings, and it robs communities of tax revenue and economic stability. That’s not economic development; that’s exploitation disguised as savings.

Public funds should not be a vehicle for low-wage labor. Businesses should not be profiting off the backs of workers and the taxpayers who unknowingly subsidize their payrolls. If a project is receiving substantial public support, the people footing the bill, namely the residents of Westchester, deserve to see quality outcomes, fair employment and economic return.

This bill isn’t radical, it’s a responsible modification to ensure working people aren’t priced out of the very communities they helped to build. It ensures that growth in Westchester is built on fairness and quality, not on cutting corners or cutting wages.

We’ve seen firsthand the many positive results that arise when labor and business work together. That partnership has been the foundation of Westchester’s success. But real partnership requires a level playing field, and that begins with fair pay.

Lawmakers have a clear choice: they can invest in a stronger, more equitable future or they can allow public money to subsidize a race to the bottom. We urge them to pass A6708/S6378 and stand with the workers and businesses that make Westchester thrive.

About the authors: John Cooney, Jr., is Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc. Todd Diorio is the President of Hudson Valley Building Trades Council and Chairman of the New York State Laborers PAC.