Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris, Assembly Member Reyes Announce Governor Signs Legislation Expanding Prevailing Wage Requirements For Utility Workers

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris and Assembly Member Karines Reyes, R.N. announced that Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law their legislation (S.4887/A.5608), the Roadway Excavation Quality Assurance Act, which requires utility companies that receive permits to open streets to perform work pay a prevailing wage.

“The workers who maintain and improve our infrastructure are vital to our communities and deserve a prevailing wage. It’s good for these skilled workers, and good for local economies across New York,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. “I am pleased Governor Hochul is signing this bill.” 

Dan Bianco, LIUNA Vice President and New England Regional Manager said, “For decades our union pushed to expand this requirement from just New York City to the rest of the state. This was a long and hard-fought battle by the men and women of the New York State Laborers that will benefit our membership indefinitely. We’d like to thank our valued colleagues in the Senate and Assembly, specifically Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, bill sponsors New York State Senator Mike Gianaris and Assemblymember Karines Reyes, Senate Labor Chair Jessica Ramos and Assembly Labor Chair LaToya Joyner, who recognize the importance of paying solid wages to workers, safety, training and holding big utility companies accountable to the people their businesses serve. Most importantly, we thank Governor Kathy Hochul for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with proud LIUNA members and signing this legislation into law, and for being a strong ally to the union men and women who build New York from the ground up!”