American workers have felt a slow decline in their wages since the early 1980s, meaning wage increases have been slightly lower than the cost of living increase. This means less money for groceries, clothing, your children and the everyday essential you may need for raising a family or saving for retirement.
Union wages for the construction industry are no different, except unions have contracts that include wage increase, healthcare and retirement plans. With ongoing training programs for apprentices and journeymen this allows the workers to be more skilled than the nonunion workers. Productivity levels are higher, accidents are lower, and attitudes on job sites are more positive than ever before because of the investments in training by the members and their union. These union contracts are agreements between Labor and Contractors. The more highly skilled workers usually result in better wages, better working conditions and better benefits for their family.
On the other hand, payroll fraud is spreading rampant through the construction industry. This is where unscrupulous nonunion contractors choose to hire hourly workers and pay them cash or as independent contractors (1099s) by not withholding the employee’s state or federal tax deductions, FICA withholdings and Medicare deductions, leaving this responsibility on the workers to pay.
https://www.cmwcarpenters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CMWCarpenterslogoFIN.png00IKORCChttps://www.cmwcarpenters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CMWCarpenterslogoFIN.pngIKORCC2016-01-05 00:00:002019-06-23 04:36:55Why should politics matter to you?
The Kentucky Legislative Research Commision provides a map to reveal the elected officials in your area. You can use the search by address at the top or select your location. By clicking on his/her bio page, you can find contact information including phone, email and mailing adress. We encourage everyone to reach out to your elected officials regarding issues of concern.
https://www.cmwcarpenters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CMWCarpenterslogoFIN.png00IKORCChttps://www.cmwcarpenters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CMWCarpenterslogoFIN.pngIKORCC2016-01-05 00:00:002019-06-23 04:35:48Who are my legislators in Kentucky?
A study of 3 states – including Kentucky – found no meaningful cost difference on school construction comparing states with and without prevailing wage.*
Why do the costs not go up with prevailing wage?
Labor only makes up 21% of total building construction costs in Kentucky. Reducing wages doesn’t produce any savings without paying workers illegally below minimum wage. However, productivity does drive the cost of construction. Skilled workers on prevailing wage jobs are 15% more productive than less-skilled workers.
Kentucky taxpayers get better project quality and self-sustaining jobs at no additional cost to the taxpayer. Lowering local standards for construction wages attracts a lower skilled, out-of-area workforce which results in large productivity losses, costly errors on the construction project, inefficient use of expensive materials and fewer jobs for Kentuckians.
Projects paying the prevailing wage create local jobs because they are more likely to employ local residents. States that maintain prevailing wages ensure that local contractors and local residents can compete for the work their hard-earned tax dollars fund. Local contractors bid on quality and productivity and out-of-state contractors don’t bring in a low-wage workforce that take jobs from local construction workers.
Common construction wage projects also directly support local training programs. These programs give local residents an entry point into a career in the building trades, and the people who benefit the most often come from communities surrounding prevailing wage projects. Others who benefit are our veterans, many returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through the Helmets to Hardhats program, these men and women receive the necessary training to successfully re-enter the civilian workforce. They learn skills that pay a wage such that they can support themselves and their family after serving their country. As government money for the Helmets to Hardhats continues to become less reliable, it’s more important than ever to maintain common construction wage jobs that support these programs.
Training programs also offer opportunities to young people, especially those unable or uninterested in pursuing a college degree. These training programs are open to anyone willing to learn a skilled trade and work hard. On-the-job training prepares them for a productive career, one that allows them to learn while they earn. The training programs also team with colleges to offer college credits for apprenticeship training. Once they graduate, these young people work to receive a wage adequate for supporting a family and contributing to their home community.
Prevailing wage is directly linked to job creation by generating jobs for local construction professionals, giving people an opportunity to learn a skill, earn a living, and support a community.
“My job for the Marines is construction, and the Helmets to Hardhats programs give me the opportunity to advance my skills doing work I can be proud of for the citizens I serve. The common construction wage supports training programs which have helped me find work and make a good living.”
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Why should politics matter to you?
/0 Comentarios/en News /por IKORCCAmerican workers have felt a slow decline in their wages since the early 1980s, meaning wage increases have been slightly lower than the cost of living increase. This means less money for groceries, clothing, your children and the everyday essential you may need for raising a family or saving for retirement.
Union wages for the construction industry are no different, except unions have contracts that include wage increase, healthcare and retirement plans. With ongoing training programs for apprentices and journeymen this allows the workers to be more skilled than the nonunion workers. Productivity levels are higher, accidents are lower, and attitudes on job sites are more positive than ever before because of the investments in training by the members and their union. These union contracts are agreements between Labor and Contractors. The more highly skilled workers usually result in better wages, better working conditions and better benefits for their family.
On the other hand, payroll fraud is spreading rampant through the construction industry. This is where unscrupulous nonunion contractors choose to hire hourly workers and pay them cash or as independent contractors (1099s) by not withholding the employee’s state or federal tax deductions, FICA withholdings and Medicare deductions, leaving this responsibility on the workers to pay.
Learn more about payroll fraud
Who are my legislators in Kentucky?
/0 Comentarios/en News /por IKORCCThe Kentucky Legislative Research Commision provides a map to reveal the elected officials in your area. You can use the search by address at the top or select your location. By clicking on his/her bio page, you can find contact information including phone, email and mailing adress. We encourage everyone to reach out to your elected officials regarding issues of concern.
Fun Fact Friday
/0 Comentarios/en News /por IKORCCPrevailing Wage Controls Costs
/0 Comentarios/en News /por IKORCCA study of 3 states – including Kentucky – found no meaningful cost difference on school construction comparing states with and without prevailing wage.*
Why do the costs not go up with prevailing wage?
*Kentucky’s Prevailing Wage Law, Phillips, P., 2014.
Creating Good Jobs
/0 Comentarios/en News /por IKORCCProjects paying the prevailing wage create local jobs because they are more likely to employ local residents. States that maintain prevailing wages ensure that local contractors and local residents can compete for the work their hard-earned tax dollars fund. Local contractors bid on quality and productivity and out-of-state contractors don’t bring in a low-wage workforce that take jobs from local construction workers.
Common construction wage projects also directly support local training programs. These programs give local residents an entry point into a career in the building trades, and the people who benefit the most often come from communities surrounding prevailing wage projects. Others who benefit are our veterans, many returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through the Helmets to Hardhats program, these men and women receive the necessary training to successfully re-enter the civilian workforce. They learn skills that pay a wage such that they can support themselves and their family after serving their country. As government money for the Helmets to Hardhats continues to become less reliable, it’s more important than ever to maintain common construction wage jobs that support these programs.
Training programs also offer opportunities to young people, especially those unable or uninterested in pursuing a college degree. These training programs are open to anyone willing to learn a skilled trade and work hard. On-the-job training prepares them for a productive career, one that allows them to learn while they earn. The training programs also team with colleges to offer college credits for apprenticeship training. Once they graduate, these young people work to receive a wage adequate for supporting a family and contributing to their home community.
Prevailing wage is directly linked to job creation by generating jobs for local construction professionals, giving people an opportunity to learn a skill, earn a living, and support a community.
“My job for the Marines is construction, and the Helmets to Hardhats programs give me the opportunity to advance my skills doing work I can be proud of for the citizens I serve. The common construction wage supports training programs which have helped me find work and make a good living.”
Source: BuildingStrongCommunities