Op-eds
ABC: Government-Registered Apprenticeship Programs Not Keeping Up With Construction Industry Needs
ABC: Government-Registered Apprenticeship Programs Not Keeping Up With Construction Industry Needs WASHINGTON, Feb. 22āAt current rates of participation and completion, federal and state government-registered apprenticeship programs will fail to meet the construction industryās short- and long-term skilled workforce needs, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of recently released U.S. Department of Labor data.…
Read MoreProject Labor Agreements Will Crush SUNY/CUNY Schools
Project Labor Agreements Will Crush SUNY/CUNY Schools The Empire State Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (“ABC”), representing hundreds of merit-shop contractors and subcontractors employing hundreds of thousands of workers throughout New York, strongly opposes S.6050. This bill would mandate that all SUNY and CUNY construction projects over $3 million have a Project Labor Agreement…
Read MoreWestside News: Buildersā association comments on start of legislation session
Westside News: Buildersā association comments on start of legislation session Our chief concern continues to be the utilization of Project Labor Agreements and the application of prevailing wages to private work. Both items do nothing more than steer contracts to preferred constituents and make New York less affordable for all of us.” – Brian Sampson,…
Read MoreNYS Reopens Bidding For Offshore Wind Projects Amid Cost Concerns
NYS Reopens Bidding For Offshore Wind Projects Amid Cost Concerns After renewable energy developers threatened to stop building billions of dollars of offshore wind energy projects due to the high construction cost, the governor and NYSERDA issued a new RFP allowing developers to rebid the projects. The rebidding process starts Thursday, November 30th. “We strongly…
Read MoreLetter to the Editor: Stadium Project Needs Construction Workers
Letter to the Editor: Stadium Project Needs Construction Workers ABC President Brian Sampson was recently featured in the East Aurora Advertiser about the Bills Stadium Project workforce issues. Dear Editor, Whether weāre a broken record or, as Yogi Berra famously said, āitās like dĆ©jĆ vu all over againā, the fact that the Bills stadium…
Read MoreSampson Quoted in BisNow: No Pause In Construction Despite NYC Having World’s Worst Air Quality
Sampson Quoted: No Pause In Construction Despite NYC Having World’s Worst Air Quality June 8, 2023Ā Ciara Long, Bisnow New York CityĀ As thick billows of smoke from wildfires in Canada turned New York Cityās air into aĀ hazardous haze on Wednesday,Ā construction work pressed ahead. Bisnow/Ellie Meyer The view of the New York City skyline from Hoboken…
Read MoreProject Labor Agreement Will Sideline Many Workers
Project Labor Agreement Will Sideline Many Workers The Buffalo Billsā stadium deal should be a great thing for all New Yorkers. However, buried in the deal is a legal mechanism that will exclude seven out of 10 construction workers in the state from working on and benefiting from the new stadium project. Erie County Executive…
Read MoreABC’s Sampson: NY’s Policies Hurt Business’ Chances of Success
ABC’s Sampson: NY’s Policies Hurt Business’ Chances of Success CLICK FOR VIDEO Construction unemployment rates in New York State have dropped drastically from a year ago, but NY still lags behind 48 states.Thatās according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. In December 2020, the rate was 15.9%. A year later…
Read MoreTo Best Protect Taxpayers, Avoid Imposing a PLA on Stadium Construction
To Best Protect Taxpayers, Avoid Imposing a PLA on Stadium Construction ABC Empire State Chapter President Brian Sampson’s Op-Ed in the Buffalo News. After years of discussion, the Buffalo Bills, their fans and the Buffalo-Niagara Falls Metropolitan region are finally poised to get a modern stadium that can provide an exceptional gameday experience for one…
Read MoreAnother Voice: Benefits Add Hidden Costs to Prevailing Wage Projects
Letās not be fooled. Proponents of the expansion of prevailing wage are already doing great damage to taxpayers. They shouldnāt be allowed to ruin what little positive job growth we now have in New York.
Read More