New Legislation Includes Prevailing Wage Repeal
Published: Mar 07, 2017 by Luther LiggettThe Ohio General Assembly has opened its new two-year session with two anti-union initiatives introduced.
Senator Matt Huffman (R, Lima) introduced Senate Bill 72, to repeal Ohio’s historic Prevailing Wage law for all public agencies other than the state.
Separately, Representative John Becker (R, Cincinnati) introduced House Bill 53 to mandate open shops for public sector workers (referred to by proponents as right-to-work).
In 1997, the legislature repealed Prevailing Wage applicability for Ohio school construction. SB 72 would eliminate the bidding requirement for all other public subdivisions.
Originally passed in 1931 when the General Assembly also held Republican majorities, the Prevailing Wage law protects Ohio taxpaying contractors from out-of-state bidders undercutting Ohio wages to obtain taxpayer-funded public work.
The federal Davis-Bacon law similarly passed during the same period. The purpose of the bill was simply to give local labor and the local contractor a fair opportunity to participate in this building program.
Univ. Research Assn v. Coutu (1981), 450 U.S. 754, 773-774.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact attorney Luther Liggett of Graff & McGovern at 614-228-5800, ext. 6.