Local 237 and members in the 220 titles had reason to rejoice March 3 after Governor George Pataki amended his 2003-2004 executive budget to remove language relating to prevailing rate that Local 237 President Carl Haynes said would hurt members in the 220 titles.

"I am delighted that the Governor had the wisdom to make this change during the 30-day amendment period so that it would not be necessary to go to the legislature for relief," Haynes said. "Sometimes the pen is mightier than the sword," Haynes added.

Last month, President Haynes wrote to Governor Pataki and urged him to reconsider a proposal in the Governor's Executive Budget to "eliminate amendments to Section 220 of Labor Law in regard to a change in the definition of the prevailing rate of wage" in an effort to help localities reduce their costs associated with prevailing wage.

The proposal, Haynes contended, "is ill-conceived and won't accomplish its goal," Haynes wrote. "At this very difficult juncture, when our economy is in poor health, this proposal would deal a death blow to the livelihoods of 3,000 of our members who are roofers, elevator mechanics, bricklayers, plasterers, et al., who would be gravely hurt should this proposal become law."

He added: "I hope that during the 30-day amendment period this language will be removed from your budget proposal."