Union Says Prevailing Wage Costs You Double

The Pipefitters union is out in force today (inflatable rat and all), protesting against work being done by non-union workers at the Essex County Courthouse. Their complaint is that union workers are experiencing high unemployment, while workers inside the facility are not earning union wages.

The Steamfitters Pipefitters & Apprentices Local Union No. 475 brought out the inflatable rodent to protest the use of non-union workers inside the power house that delivers energy to the sprawling courthouse complex in Newark.

Greg Casey, business agent for the local union that serves eight counties in northern New Jersey, said workers inside were getting less than half the $40 per hour local prevailing wage rate to do piping modification work.

Laced within Mr. Casey's point is the exact problem with the state's prevailing wage laws. Let's say he is correct, and that workers inside are earning about $20 per hour. What does that tell us?

It says that the market rate for pipe maintenance is about $20 per hour, but NJ (with its prevailing wage laws) pays twice that amount for the same work. And when we say NJ, we really mean the state's taxpayers because government never actually produces anything.

So an extra $20 per hour, per worker is taken from New Jersey taxpayers with no economically defensible reason. This during a time of recession, when it is not just union households struggling with a sagging economy.

If this really is a financial crisis, and "everything is on the table" to save taxpayer dollars, shouldn't that include a second look at these laws?

Comments

[blue collar employer]

Ive recently worked on a Federal project where the rates are 3 times the amount of the current rate for workers in the area .We could hire 3 people for every 1 person that we pay. Not to mention the fact that prevailing wages are more suited for union than non union.The stimulus money being sent out (TAXPAYERS money)
will now be lining the pockets of union officials because they don't have to pay Davis Bacon Wages like non-union workers do.In short less people working, different wall street bonuses.