LANSING (WKZO)– The Michigan Senate has approved a three bill package repealing Michigan’s prevailing wage law, which requires the state to pay union scale on taxpayer funded construction projects.
Five Republicans defected from the majority to the democratic side but it still passed.
It’s been a priority of Senator Alan Meekhof who says it just raises the price of projects. But unions and contractors, the firms that pay those higher salaries testified that it helps guarantee quality work, on the job safety and fewer headaches down the road.
They say without the requirement, unscrupulous contractors will underbid and then bring in non-union workers from out of state, and do substandard work.
If approved, it would not impact most road projects which usually have some federal money involved. Federal projects would still require prevailing wages.
The bills now head to the House.
Governor Snyder says he opposes the legislation and may be under some pressure to veto it or lose Democratic cooperation on a road funding package.
