NY State Assembly Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Bronson Visit Carpenters Training Facility in Rochester, NY

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and Assemblymember Harry Bronson visited the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters' (NRCC) Rochester Training Facility (21 Jetview Drive, Rochester, NY) on Tuesday, July 18^th.  

During the tour, Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Bronson met with 10 NRCC Representatives and 20 students in the Eastern Millwrights Council Apprentice program to learn more about the NRCC's apprenticeship program and the Council's efforts to recruit and hire more women and minority carpenters.

"The New York State Assembly Majority strongly supports the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters and backs their mission to diversify its workforce," said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. "Our conference has passed numerous pieces of legislation to level the playing field for minority and women-owned businesses, as well as legislation to ensure that those contractors and subcontractors who are debarred on the federal level under the Davis-Bacon Act for wage payment violations are unable to bid on state public work contracts. Today's visit assures me that this industry is on the right path and that the Assembly Majority will continue to be a partner in its success."

"I thank the carpenters for taking time out of their day to highlight this fantastic facility," said Assemblymember Harry Bronson.  "This training facility will offer the next generation of carpenters the skills they need to compete in tomorrow's environment." Bronson continued, "I would also like to thank the Speaker for his leadership on the passage of legislation that ensures contractors and subcontractors who are debarred on the federal level under the Davis-Bacon Act for wage payment violations, are unable to bid on state public work contracts and also the passage of legislation that defines what is a "public work" in New York state. Both pieces of legislation, that I authored, will ensure that our hardworking men and women in the trades can earn a good middle-class income for their families and protect taxpayers from contractors who have violated the law."

The New York State Legislature recently passed A8514/S6790, an Act to amend labor and general municipal law as it relates to reciprocity of debarments imposed under the federal Davis-Bacon Act. The bill, which now needs approval from the Governor, states that any contractor debarred by the U.S. Department of Labor for violations of the Davis-Bacon Act cannot work on New York State public works projects.  The public works definition bill (A5498/S2975) passed the Assembly in June by a large majority (116-28).  It would create a statutory definition of public work.  Currently, the definition has been left to court interpretation and this legislation would ensure that any construction project receiving a public subsidy would have to pay workers a fair wage.

"We were so pleased to welcome State Speaker Heastie and Assemblyman Bronson to our Rochester Training Facility, so they could view our new Facility and learn more about the steps our Council is taking to attract women and minorities to the field of carpentry," said David Haines, Northwest New York Regional Manager. "The Northeast Carpenters has a strong relationship with the State Assembly and have been pleased to work with them on the recent debarment bill and public work definition bill that will help our carpenters to receive good pay and benefits from law abiding companies in New York."

Work was completed on the NRCC's new 45,000 square feet training center in Rochester in Spring 2017. The facility has four classrooms with A/V equipment and a new state-of-the-art welding training space. The total cost of the project was $2.3 million. To read more about the new Rochester Training Center and view videos and photos from the April 28, 2017 open house, please read about it in The Digital Carpenter: www.northeastcarpenters.org/digitalcarpenter.

About the NRCC

The Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (NRCC) represents nearly 40,000 hardworking men and women in Delaware and New Jersey and portions of Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. NRCC is one of the largest trade unions on the East Coast. The NRCC equips professional men and women carpenters with the skills, training and quality workmanship that are demanded in today's construction industry. For more information on NRCC, please visit our website: www.northeastcarpenters.org; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastRegionalCouncilofCarpenters; or Twitter: https://twitter.com/nrccarpenters.

SOURCE Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (NRCC)

Related Links

http://www.northeastcarpenters.org