Thursday, October 1, 2026
From our city skyscrapers to the subways that keep our cities moving, union labor built this state. And now, as our schools age and our communities continue to grow, we have a new opportunity to show what it means to lead with our values.
The School Construction Fair Labor Act, sponsored by State Sen. Monica Martinez and I, is a chance for New York to show up for working class people and make sure the workers building our schools are treated with the respect and fairness they deserve.
This bill would require project labor agreements, or PLAs, for all Long Island public school construction projects costing over $1 million. Before a single shovel hits the ground, PLAs lay out clear terms for wages, safety standards and conflict resolution. That means less chaos on job sites, and a better final result for our school communities.
We already know this approach works. Research from Cornell University shows that PLAs make job sites safer and more cost-effective over time. That’s because they prevent the chaos that comes when non-union contractors underbid jobs by reducing wages and ignoring safety.
We’ve seen it time and again: When we cut corners on construction, our schools pay the price. School buildings that fall apart too soon. Heating systems that fail in the middle of winter. These are all costly and avoidable problems. By ensuring a stable, experienced workforce from the start, PLAs create the strongest conditions for a job well done.
This bill isn’t just about upgrading our schools — it’s about working-class Long Islanders. Right now, far too many school construction contracts are awarded to out-of-state firms that bring their own workforce, which bypasses a lot of our own talent here in our region. This isn’t a strong model for success, and puts our own unions at a disadvantage.
Long Island public schools receive nearly 80 percent of their construction funding through the state’s Building Aid program. That’s hundreds of millions of public dollars flowing into the region every year. The question isn’t whether we’ll spend this money; it’s whether we will spend it responsibly. With 125 school districts, these are not small or occasional projects. They’re an important part of our public infrastructure, and they should be built to the best standards possible.
Requiring PLAs would ensure that public dollars work to create local jobs and support a stable, skilled workforce. Many PLAs include workforce development components that prioritize hiring from the local community, which includes Black, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander New Yorkers, and other underrepresented groups in the trades. That helps create long-term opportunities for working families.
It also supports small and responsible local contractors. PLAs don’t exclude non-union firms; they just require everyone to play by the same rules. That levels the playing field for businesses that do their part to pay fair wages and provide workers’ benefits.
This bill would also provide clarity and consistency. As things stand now, each school district manages its construction bidding process independently, which leads to unpredictable results and unequal standards. A uniform PLA requirement for projects over $1 million would offer a reliable baseline, while still giving our local school leaders the flexibility they need.
At its core, the School Construction Fair Labor Act is about making sure public money works for the public good. That means investing in our infrastructure, and in the people who build it. Let’s pass this legislation, and make sure our schools are built to last, by workers who are valued and paid fair wages.
Michaelle Solages represents the 22nd Assembly District.
