Assemblyman John Mikulin (R,C-Bethpage) joined members of the New York State Building & Construction Trades Council and other labor unions at the state Capitol today to rally for union jobs in State University of New York (SUNY) construction projects. For decades, unions have built, maintained and invested in the state’s higher education campuses; however, with no project labor agreement requirement in place, SUNY’s current procurement system uses taxpayer dollars to subsidize out-of-state companies.

“Our state has been built by good, hardworking unions, and the state-of-the-art SUNY facilities across New York are shining beacons of decades of their efforts,” said Mikulin. “These campuses not only inspire future generations seeking higher education, but they remind us all of the determination, grit and teamwork that went into building these campuses. When it comes to state tax dollars, we should be doing everything we can to hire local, support local and keep jobs in-state. I proudly support our unions and am a proud supporter of this initiative.”

Mikulin is a sponsor of the bipartisan bill that would require large-scale SUNY construction projects with an estimated cost of $3 million or more to be approved by the state and include a project labor agreement (A.5486).

Among those also joining the rally today were other members of the state Legislature and members of the Mason Tenders’ District Council of Greater New York, New York State Laborers, Laborers Local 66, District Council 9 Painters & Allied Trades, North Atlantic States Carpenters Union, Heat & Frost Insulators Local 12, Bricklayers Local 1, Tile, Marble & Terrazzo Local 7, SMART Local 28 and Steamfitters Local 638.