Local One AppUpdates from the General President
Department of Labor to Strengthen Prevailing Wage Regulations
Welcome News for Construction Workers
Washington, D.C. (March 11, 2021) – Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – made the following statement today:
LIUNA commends the Administration and the US Department of Labor on the proposed rulemaking which will update regulations for the implementation of the Davis-Bacon Act for the first time in 40 years. These needed updates will modernize the rules and improve effectiveness.
For the proud men and women of LIUNA, who do the grueling work of building our nation’s roads, bridges, transit, federal buildings and energy infrastructure, effective implementation and enforcement of prevailing wages on federal construction projects helps ensure that workers earn fair wages and benefits. As the jobs-creating investment from the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law rolls out, these updates will protect taxpayers’ investment as well as construction workers’ pay and benefits.
The proposed changes will also strengthen worker protections and enforcement, including debarment for contractors that cheat workers and anti-retaliation rules to protect whistle-blowers.
LIUNA thanks President Biden and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh for their leadership in protecting and creating good jobs and we look forward to the roll-out of the new Davis Bacon regulations.
Protect LIUNA Members' Pay
LIUNA members are skilled workers who do the hard work of building America. Davis-Bacon prevailing wages ensure we earn fair pay and benefits. But non-union contractors are ignoring the rules, stealing from workers, and retaliating when workers speak out.
The Department of Labor has proposed a historic update to protect and strengthen Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rules that will:
- Ramp up enforcement on law-breaking contractors
- Stop wage theft and misclassification
- Implement anti-retaliation protections
- Modernize the process for setting wages to strengthen the wage floor
- Return to the more fair and accurate three-step method in setting wages (a wage rate will be considered prevailing if it was paid to at least 30 percent of workers)*
The DOL's proposed updates are ground-breaking and monumental.
Strong Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rules are your lifeline to the middle-class. Send your message of support for these changes that will protect Laborers' wages, and ensure union contractors have a fair chance to bid on federal jobs.