Prevailing Wage laws define how much workers get paid, benefits and overtime, and safety standards in a certain area.
Prevailing Wage laws create a level playing field for union contractors, meaning more UA members get jobs on large-scale government projects.
Prevailing Wage laws are critical to making sure UA members earn good wages with benefits in a safe workplace.
For more information on Prevailing Wage laws, click here.
Prevailing Wage laws protect fair wages. When Prevailing Wage laws are in place, it is illegal for contractors to bring in cheaper outside labor. That's more money in your pocket.
Prevailing Wage laws ensure safety. UA members are the best trained craftspeople in the world. Prevailing Wage laws take advantage of our extremely high standards, guaranteeing projects are safely completed by UA members. In fact, UA training programs lead to a 17% increase in productivity on the jobsite.
Prevailing Wage laws mean good benefits. Not only do Prevailing Wage laws protect fair wages, but they ensure that UA members earn quality healthcare and good retirement benefits. Prevailing Wage laws protect lifelong careers for all UA members.
Get the facts straight on Prevailing Wage laws:
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Prevailing Wage laws lead to safer workplaces. In states with strong Prevailing Wage laws, the average fatality rate is 8.5 per 100,000 workers compared to a whopping 12.7 per 100,000 workers in states with weak or no Prevailing Wage laws.
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Prevailing Wage laws keep project costs down. Opponents of Prevailing Wage claim that costs go up simply because wages are higher. Instead, projects are often completed on time and under budget because of the high standards with which UA members operate.
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Prevailing Wage laws protect local taxpayer bases. In fact, repeal or weakening of Prevailing Wage laws has been shown to increase the burden on local taxpayers by lowering income for construction workers to below the poverty line.
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Prevailing Wage laws promote a diverse workforce. While opponents of Prevailing Wage claim that the law is rooted in old-school racism, that couldn't be further from the truth. Prevailing Wage laws were first enacted (Davis-Bacon Act of 1931) to protect both Black and White laborers from being exploited and paid sub-standard wages. Now, Prevailing Wage laws ensure that equal protections are afforded to minority workers on the jobsite.
Here's the bottom line: in states with strong Prevailing Wage laws, projects are completed better, faster, and cheaper – and UA members get paid more and earn good benefits in a safe workplace.
That's why the UA fights like hell to make sure our elected officials support Prevailing Wage laws.