Collins Administration Effectively Suspends Apprenticeship Law

September 19, 2008

Law wastes taxpayer dollars, harms local businesses

Honoring a campaign promise, Erie County Executive Chris Collins has effectively suspended the County's Apprenticeship Law first passed by the Legislature in 2006.

The Apprenticeship Law prevented contractors without apprenticeship programs from competing for county construction work. The County Executive believes the Apprenticeship Law harms local business, drives up the cost of county projects, and wastes taxpayer dollars.

"The Apprenticeship Law is the most anti-business, anti-taxpayer law on the books," said Erie County Executive Chris Collins. "I pledged to the voters that I would work hard to remove this obstacle and my administration has done just that. The law was nothing more than the Legislature's Majority's effort to bolster union support at the expense of hardworking taxpayers."

Earlier this year, the Administration submitted new rules and regulations regarding the Apprenticeship Law to the Legislature. These new rules were effective July 21, 2008 and allowed non-apprenticeship law contractors to compete for county work given New York State's moratorium on new apprenticeship programs. The Legislature Majority had 60 days to vote and block this change and it failed to do so.

"This is a great day for the taxpayers of our community," said Collins. "By effectively suspending the County's Apprenticeship Law we are now opening county construction business to call contractors making the process more equitable for local businesses and more cost effective for local taxpayers. We are also sending a signal to the rest of the state and country that Erie County is open for business. The Legislature Majority should think twice before passing this kind of legislation again. We need to work together to move this community forward, not hold it back."

"At a time when one of the biggest problems we face is government spending, these rule changes will ensure that we save at least 20% for every project that Erie County bids out," said Erie County Legislator Michael Ranzenhofer.

"I want to applaud County Executive Collins for taking the lead on suspending the apprenticeship law," said Legislature Minority Leader John J. Mills. "This law is anti-business and anti-taxpayer and it's suspension will save the taxpayers millions over time."

"This is an example of us challenging the status quo and we are no longer going to pursue business as usual practices in Erie County," said Legislator Edward Rath. "The taxpayers are starved for reform and should be encouraged that this law change will not sacrifice the high quality services and contracts that we provide in Erie County."

Several local contractors applauded Collins' success in effectively suspending the Apprenticeship Law.

"The Empire State Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors fully supports County Executive Chris Collins' effort to suspend the Erie County Apprenticeship Law," said Scott Zylka with Associated Builders & Contractors. "Mr. Collins' actions today reopen Erie County projects to Erie County businesses that have been excluded from working in their county for over two years. County Executive Collins, again, is making the right choice for the taxpayers of Erie County. Now the taxpayers will benefit from increased competition, more job opportunities for local construction workers and lower project costs for county projects"

"As a union company, we are already doing what is necessary to train our workforce and ensure the survival of our business," said local contractor Rosanne Lettieri. "Local businesses do not need another layer of rules and regulations that only drive up the cost of local projects. The Apprenticeship Law is a bad deal for taxpayers. By neutralizing the law, the County Executive is making sure we are maximizing our infrastructure dollars so we can build and repair more roads and bridges."

"I worked to fight the Apprenticeship Law from the very beginning," said Frank Sergi of Sergi Construction. "My company is already committed to training and the Apprenticeship Law only puts my small business at an unfair disadvantage. By neutralizing the Apprenticeship Law, the Collin's Administration is helping put my local company on an even playing field."