RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PREVAILING WAGE FOR ALL WORKERS ON 421-A HOUSING PROJECTS

WHEREAS, income inequality in this country continues to grow; and

WHEREAS, nowhere is the imbalance more glaring than in New York City, particularly when it

comes to the 421-a program; and

WHEREAS, the 421-a program currently allows wealthy developers to benefit from billions of

dollars in tax breaks without requiring them to create good-paying, middle-class jobs in the

process; and

WHEREAS, these developers are currently enjoying tax breaks to build luxury housing, without

providing adequate affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, the program is costing taxpayers more than $1 billion a year and not delivering an

adequate return on that investment; and

WHEREAS, if allowed to continue as is, the program will drive down wages in the construction

industry and lower the standard of living for all workers; and

WHEREAS, if the state is going to provide tax breaks to developers, then those benefiting from

the tax breaks have an obligation to provide good jobs in return; and

WHEREAS, creating middle-class jobs benefits the city and the state by providing working men

and women with the means to support local businesses and by generating tax revenue to

support the vital and quality public services that all New Yorkers expect and deserve; therefore

be it

RESOLVED, that the Executive Council of the New York State AFL-CIO and the 2.5 million public

sector, private sector and building trades members represented throughout this state stand

together to demand prevailing wages be required for all workers on 421-a projects; including

the men and women who provide services in the buildings and the men and women who

construct the buildings; in any renewal of the program.

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