LATEST POLITICAL NEWS
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May9
Congressman Stauber supports stronger prevailing wage regulations
Local 49 thanks Minnesota Congressman Pete Stauber for backing much-needed updates to the Davis-Bacon Act regulations that will directly benefit operating engineers. Approved in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act requires contractors…
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January13
Local 49 Business Manager Jason George Speaks at House Committee on Natural Resources
Congressman Pete Stauber invited Local 49 Business Manager Jason George to speak in front of the Committee on Natural Resources Republicans and the Western Caucus today about the importance of…
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December7
Local 49 responds to Governor Walz’s Budget Surplus Announcement
Today, Governor Tim Walz announced the largest budget surplus in the state’s history of $7.7 billion. This not only marks a significant milestone in our state but provides a once-in-a-generation…
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December1
Act Now to Defend Minnesota’s Mining Laws
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been ordered by the Court to review the state’s nonferrous mining rule and is accepting public comment on the matter through December…
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November23
Local 49 Announces New Legislative Director
Today, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 announced that John Pollard will serve as the union’s new Legislative Director. Pollard will be responsible for the union’s day-to-day…
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November6
IUOE Statement on Federal Infrastructure Package
“I want to thank General President Callahan and the IUOE legislative team in Washington for their efforts to make this historic investment in Operating Engineers jobs a reality. I also…
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PREVAILING WAGE IS UNDER ATTACK
- Wisconsin repealed prevailing wage for more than 90% of public projects.
- Indiana fully repealed prevailing wage for all public projects.
- Anti-worker forces are pushing to repeal prevailing wage in Michigan right now.
- Anti-worker forces are pushing to weaken or repeal prevailing wage in West VA.
- Minnesota has seen attempts to weaken prevailing wage laws in the last 5 years.
- Prevailing Wage laws set wage rates for construction workers on publicly financed projects.
- On prevailing wage jobs, contractors are not allowed to pay less than the area wage rates for each craft.
- The wage rates are set by the government – each area of the state has their own rates.
- Rates are based on wage surveys turned in by contractors and workers on construction jobs in their area.
- The government sets the rates for each area based on those surveys and what workers make on those jobs.
- All federally funded projects are covered by Davis-Bacon wage rates.
- Minnesota has a state prevailing wage law that applies to all projects with any state funding.
- City, County, and School District funded jobs in Minnesota do not have prevailing wage protection unless that local government has passed their own prevailing wage law. Many City, County and School Districts throughout Minnesota have passed their own local prevailing wage ordinances.
- North Dakota does not have a state prevailing wage law – city, county, school district or state funded jobs do not have prevailing wage protection.
- South Dakota does not have a state prevailing wage law – city, county, school district or state funded jobs do not have prevailing wage protection.
1. Prevailing wage laws allow you to earn good wages and benefits
- Local Contractors that pay good wages, both Union and Non-Union, are protected in the bidding process from cheap labor out of state competitors coming in and taking work away from local skilled workers and contractors.
- If contractors can’t win bids paying good wages and benefits – they are forced to cut wages and benefits to compete.
2. Prevailing wage laws benefit Union and Non-Union construction workers
- Union and Non-Union workers make the prevailing wage on those projects.
- Area wage standards protect both Union and Non-Union skilled workers from being undercut in the market by unskilled workers.
3. Prevailing wage laws are critical to public safety, and protect taxpayers investments
- Where prevailing wage is weak or doesn’t exist you invite contractors that employ unskilled cheap labor to build your infrastructure and buildings – unskilled labor will build unsafe bridges, buildings, etc.
- You get what you pay for – infrastructure and buildings paid for by taxpayers should be built to last, not on the cheap – it costs less to build it right the first time with skilled professionals than it does to build it cheap with unskilled labor.
VALID RESEARCH SHOWS THAT REPEALING
PREVAILING WAGE LEADS TO:
• Less workforce training
• Less educated and less experienced workforce
• Higher injury rates
• Increased lawsuits
SOURCE: MICHIGAN PREVAILS