Lawmakers throw Michigan workers to the curb, ram through prevailing wage repeal

LANSING – Protect Michigan Jobs today slammed members of the Michigan House for their decision to side with out-of-state special interests and gut Michigan’s prevailing wage law.

“It’s truly a disgrace and an outrage that the House rammed through a prevailing wage repeal and denied Michigan voters the opportunity to decide the future of this critical policy,” said Douglas W. Stockwell, Business Manager and General Vice-President, Operating Engineers 324. “Members of the House who voted to gut prevailing wage had every opportunity to show backbone and demonstrate their support for local workers and communities. Instead, they chose out-of-state special interests.”

“Rather than letting the people of Michigan decide the future of prevailing wage, too many members of the House bought into a shameful political charade orchestrated by shady contractors and special interests,” said Geno Alessandrini, Business Manager of the Michigan Laborers District Council. “The only thing worse than the fraud and forgeries employed by prevailing wage opponents in this effort is the fact that a majority of representatives sided with them over Michigan families.”

“Today the Michigan Legislature voted against keeping highly skilled workers in Michigan and voted against ensuring safe, on-time, on-budget construction of projects throughout our state,” said Mike Jackson, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights. “With a single vote, the Michigan Legislature today dealt a massive economic blow to communities and families throughout our state, rather than allowing voters an opportunity to decide the future of this critical policy.”