New York City has approved two major Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) covering more than $7 billion in public construction projects, a move officials say will create thousands of union job opportunities while expanding access to apprenticeship programs for local residents.
The agreements were announced by Mayor Eric Adams and the NYC Office of Talent and Workforce Development in partnership with the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and Vicinity (BCTC).
Under the citywide agreements, labor standards will apply to a broad range of upcoming capital projects, including recreation centers, libraries, school solar installations, water treatment facilities and other infrastructure work across the five boroughs.
Focus on wages, safety and local hiring
City officials said the PLAs are intended to ensure that public projects are built under consistent labor standards that include union wages, benefits and workplace safety protections.
The agreements also include community hiring provisions that direct a significant share of work hours to residents of NYCHA developments and neighborhoods with high poverty rates.
As part of a related workforce initiative, the city will recruit 700 pre-apprentices who will receive free construction training and direct entry pathways into union apprenticeship programs through a partnership with BCTC and the Building Trade Employers’ Association of New York City.
“These agreements are designed to create good-paying careers while helping the city deliver critical projects more efficiently,” Mayor Adams said.
Industry leaders back the agreements
Construction and labor leaders said the initiative will help address future workforce shortages while creating long-term career opportunities.
Gary LaBarbera, president of BCTC, said PLAs help ensure public investments generate family-supporting jobs and expand access to the middle class through apprenticeship programs.
Union representatives from several building trades also praised the agreements, saying they will create additional training opportunities and provide workers with stable wages and benefits.
Paul O’Connor, business manager of Plumbers Local 1, described the agreements as a catalyst for both infrastructure modernization and workforce development, while Joseph Azzopardi of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades said the initiative will support high-quality construction and strengthen working families across the city.
Economic and workforce impact
Industry groups said the agreements could have a significant economic impact by allowing thousands of apprentices to gain hands-on experience on major public projects.
Carlo A. Scissura, president of the New York Building Congress, said the agreements demonstrate how public investment combined with union labor can modernize infrastructure while expanding middle-class career opportunities.
John O’Hare of the Building Contractors Association added that the PLAs will help train the next generation of skilled tradespeople while ensuring local communities benefit from public construction spending.
City officials said the agreements represent a long-term strategy to improve infrastructure, strengthen the construction workforce and create more pathways into union careers for New Yorkers.
