The United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) condemned Phoenix, Arizona Mayor Kate Gallego’s tiebreaking vote this week to reject a proposed prevailing wage ordinance that would have guaranteed fair wages and benefits for all workers on publicly funded projects:
“If Mayor Gallego truly wanted to stand with workers like the Brothers and Sisters of the United Association, she would have led the fight to pass this prevailing wage ordinance and guarantee fair wages. Instead, she cowered behind anti-worker talking points and voted to let contractors undercut wages and bring in unskilled labor on the cheap,” said Mark McManus, General President of the United Association. “Prevailing wage provisions are quite frankly the bare minimum for elected officials hoping to earn the support of unions like ours. These laws mean our members can put food on the table, afford childcare while they are on the jobsite, and save money so their kids can go to school. Mayor Gallego turned her back on workers and voted against those basic protections this week.”
“In a ‘Right-to-work’ state like Arizona, prevailing wage ordinances are even more important to safeguarding fair wages. I’m grateful to the city council members who first proposed this ordinance to protect workers in Phoenix, like our members, in the face of unscrupulous contractors,” said Aaron Butler, Business Manager of UA Local 469 in Phoenix, Arizona. “We expect a lot from our elected officials, but prevailing wage is the bare minimum. Mayor Gallego turned her back on us this week, plain and simple.”