T
he carpenters' union is pushing for increased construction wage requirements on city-funded projects. Council member Kevin Riley plans to reintroduce the Fair Share Act, which would mandate prevailing wages for workers at projects receiving over $1 million in city funding. The measure applies to developments larger than 50,000 square feet or with more than 50 residential units. However, it excludes tax breaks like 485x, which already has its own wage requirements.

    The union is optimistic about the bill's chances after securing a veto-proof supermajority last year. "When city taxpayer money is spent on construction projects, it must create good, family-sustaining jobs—and that is exactly what the Fair Share Act guarantees," said Paul Capurso, president of the New York District Council of Carpenters.

    The measure has been in development for several years, with a similar bill proposed by former Queens Council member Elizabeth Crowley in 2015. The laborers' union has also been pushing its own construction wage bill, the Construction Justice Act, which would mandate a $40 per hour wage floor on certain housing projects. However, officials have expressed concerns that this measure could be too costly and discourage developers from working on subsidized projects.