STUDY: Prevailing Wage Laws Boost Homeownership for Construction Workers
Workers in Midwestern States like IL, MN, OH, and MO Seeing Biggest Gains Continue reading “STUDY: Prevailing Wage Laws Boost Homeownership for Construction Workers”
Tag: construction
STUDY: Illinois’ Construction Apprenticeship Programs Rival State Colleges and Universities on Key Performance Metrics
La Grange: From the number of training hours and graduation rates to the diversity of classes and the lifetime earnings of graduates, Illinois’ joint labor-management construction apprenticeship programs are rivaling– and in some cases exceeding– the performance of the state’s … Continue reading STUDY: Illinois’ Construction Apprenticeship Programs Rival State Colleges and Universities on Key Performance Metrics
ILEPI Testimony on Registered Apprenticeship Programs
On Friday, April 26, the Illinois House Labor & Commerce Committee held a subject matter hearing on “Workforce Development, Reducing Unemployment, and Improving the Economy.” Frank Manzo IV, MPP, Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) testified before the committee. Here is what he said.
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People of Color Benefit from Prevailing Wage Laws
Economic data show that prevailing wage laws shrink racial income gaps in construction. Continue reading “People of Color Benefit from Prevailing Wage Laws”
Illinois House Testimonies on the Consequences of Repealing Prevailing Wage
On Tuesday, February 27, the Labor and Commerce Committee in the Illinois House held a hearing titled “Impacts of Repealing the Prevailing Wage.” Frank Manzo IV, MPP, Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI); Robert Bruno, Ph.D., Director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois; and Kevin Duncan, Ph.D., Professor of Economics at Colorado State University-Pueblo submitted testimonies.
The following article provides condensed versions of those testimonies.
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NEW STUDY: Prevailing Wage Laws Close Income Gaps for African Americans in Construction
Laws help grow incomes across the racial spectrum, and help more workers access middle class La Grange: Prevailing wage laws reduce income inequality between African-American and white construction workers by as much as 53% and help more blue-collar workers reach … Continue reading NEW STUDY: Prevailing Wage Laws Close Income Gaps for African Americans in Construction
A Responsible Bidder Ordinance is a Protection Plan for Taxpayers
A Responsible Bidder Ordinance (RBO) is a policy that sets minimal requirements for all contractors bidding on publicly-funded projects in a given political jurisdiction. Typically, these requirements include proof of participation in an apprenticeship training program, proof of certificates of insurance, prequalification surveys, and compliance with all local, state, and federal laws. RBOs are a qualifications-based approach to construction contracting for public entities. The policies are a kind of “insurance policy” for taxpayers. The local ordinances establish clear, objective standards that contractors must meet in order to win bids and construct projects funded using taxpayer dollars.
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The H-2B Guest Worker Program Unnecessarily Lowers Construction Worker Wages in Illinois
The H-2B program grants visas to foreign workers to become employed at U.S. employers for temporary periods of time. The H-2B program is intended to address worker shortages in unskilled occupations. Migrant workers issued an H-2B visa can be employed for up to 9 months, but their visa may be extended for up to three years. Approximately 115,000 H-2B workers are currently in the United States.
The H-2B program often lowers wages for both foreign-born workers and U.S. citizens. Continue reading “The H-2B Guest Worker Program Unnecessarily Lowers Construction Worker Wages in Illinois”
Two Top U.S. Research Organizations: Repealing Davis-Bacon Act Would Save 0%
The Brookings Institution and the Wilson Center entertainingly show that repealing the Davis-Bacon Act would not save taxpayer dollars.
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Lowering Worker Wages is NOT the Answer
Lowering the wages of construction workers is NOT the way to prosperity.
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Prevailing Wage Repeal Would Hurt Kentucky’s Economy
Repealing Kentucky’s prevailing wage law would weaken the state’s economy, according to a new study.
Eliminating prevailing wage would cause a pay cut for middle-class workers, qualify more workers for public assistance, slash apprenticeship training, and result in more of Kentucky’s tax dollars going to out-of-state or foreign contractors. Veterans, who populate construction trades at a higher rate than non-veterans, would be particularly impacted if Kentucky were to repeal its prevailing wage standards.
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Weakening Wisconsin’s Prevailing Wage Law Will Negatively Impact Veterans
Veterans in Wisconsin’s construction industry are about to be negatively affected by Wisconsin’s 2015-17 Budget Bill.
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The Illinois Update 
