A bill that would expand prevailing wage to any construction project that is partially funded with public money has shifted into a neutral gear as lawmakers wrap up the legislative session on Thursday.
The bill would include a one-year carve out for New York City, allowing labor leaders and the commissioner of labor to develop a locally tailored plan.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said the measure has been held up with “regional” issues raised by members.
“City members had some concerns, upstate members had different concerns,” he said. “We’re still going to see if we can figure something out on prevailing.”
The New York City grace period, he said, was not a sticking point, but part of the conversation with lawmakers.
“I wouldn’t say it was a poison pill. It was an issue of discussion,” Heastie said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo in an interview on WAMC in the morning acknowledged the prevailing wage measure remained up in the air.
“The only outstanding issues that we’re still trying to work through: Prevailing Wage bill the Assembly does not want to pass because it has no immediate effect on New York City; it calls for a study in New York City on the prevailing Wage and the Assembly does not want to pass the prevailing wage bill,” he said.