Following the passage of New York’s FY24 budget, Mason Tenders and Local 79 Business Manager Michael Prohaska issued the following statement:

“Over the last four months our union worked diligently on the FY24 budget and fought shoulder-to-shoulder with community groups, worker justice, and labor organizations on groundbreaking policies. We welcomed proposals like the Housing Compact, New York City community hiring, raising the minimum wage, and more – policies we saw as addressing some of New York’s most urgent needs right now.

“We supported building affordable housing and ensuring this housing development spurred unionized careers in construction for local residents. We fought for widespread wage justice through raising the minimum wage and ensuring New Yorkers can support themselves with dignity. We also advocated for childcare access, an unemployment benefit program to help New Yorkers excluded from the traditional system, and criminal justice reforms that ensure people can secure jobs, housing, and more when they return home from being incarcerated. While the final budget agreement approved yesterday didn’t reflect all of these proposals, New Yorkers and our union still have a lot to look forward to from it.

“We know Governor Hochul remains committed to working with Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie on vital issues like housing and career-track jobs. We look forward to the remainder of the legislative session and work ahead to keep New York’s economy, workforce, and communities thriving.”