Cuomo reaches labor deal for Tappan Zee

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120618/LABOR_UNIONS/120619879#ixzz1yGTbElKj

Agreement with ironworkers paves the way for the governor's signature capital project, a new bridge costing $6 billion.

By Daniel Massey @masseydaniel
June 18, 2012 5:16 p.m.

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The state had considered moving rebar work for the $6 billion Tappan Zee Bridge replacement.
Photo by Bloomberg News.

The Cuomo administration has reached a deal with building trades unions that could save the state nearly half a billion dollars on its ambitious Tappan Zee Bridge project and guarantees that labor disruptions won't mar the construction.

The project labor agreement, or PLA, was approved after twice failing to gain the favor of the unions (Subscription Needed):.

Labor leaders had opposed a state plan to cut, bend and fabricate the reinforcing steel for the bridge in an offsite factory instead of having the Metallic Lathers and Reinforcing Ironworkers Local 46 do the work on or near the bridge. The union feared the original state plan would deprive its members of $40 million in wages and benefits.

"Replacing the Tappan Zee Bridge represents one of the largest public infrastructure projects in the nation, and the agreement reached today will allow thousands of New York's working men and women to secure good jobs building a new, safer bridge," Mr. Cuomo said in a statement.

FULL story at link.