Republicans are continuing to attack the Davis-Bacon Act and its legal prevailing wage pay structure on
federally funded projects. The 86-year-old Davis-Bacon Act mandates that local prevailing wages are paid to construction workers for any project involving federal funds. These projects usually include highways, bridges, airports and subway systems.
While it makes no sense for Republican legislators to promote bills that cut wages in local communities, several congressional representatives have introduced anti-worker legislation.
Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Az., has tried several times to introduce bills that would weaken Davis-Bacon – by lowering the wage base. Rep. Steve King, R-Ia., has introduced legislation that would repeal Davis-Bacon.
For years, the North America’s Building Trades, a division of the AFL-CIO, has successfully defended Davis-Bacon against assaults by the anti-worker anti-union organizations and its congressional Republican allies, even though Republicans pushed Davis-Bacon through in 1931. NABTU has continually been a vigilant watch dog in the battle to protect prevailing wage laws.
On April 17, 2018 I attended the North America’s Building Trades Legislative Conference and heard NABTU President Sean McGarvey talk about this important landmark legislation.
President McGarvey, told the legislative conference audience that “we engage lawmakers of both parties to ensure our tax dollars are not used to undermine standards or promote a race to the bottom.” The battles aren’t going away – if long-term victories, economic opportunities and retirement security is what we seek. When misguided politicians in some states look to undermine long fought health, safety and wage standards for the construction industry, bipartisan political engagement is critical, said the NABTU President.
“Together, we can effectively bring an end to the ‘race to the bottom’ that has devastated countless American workers and their families. Together, we can protect prevailing wage standards, promote fair contracting, and expand the use of project labor agreements,” continued McGarvey.
