LANSING, Mich., Oct. 7, 2021 — Today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that her administration would be reinstating a prevailing wage on state-funded construction projects, despite the 2018 Republican legislation that ended the practice. Prevailing wage laws set wage and benefit floors for state-funded projects, guaranteeing higher wages for construction workers. In support of the move, state Rep. Terry Sabo (D-Muskegon), chair of the Michigan Legislative Labor Caucus, issued the following statement:
“It’s clear Michigan is facing a labor shortage, due in part to the repeal of prevailing wage over three years ago. That repeal was based on the myth that it would save taxpayer dollars, but, in reality, we’ve only seen lower-quality work and no real savings. It’s common sense: you get what you pay for. The best way to recruit and retain workers isn’t to encourage a race to the bottom but to give them good benefits and pay them what they deserve. I’m sick of hearing Republicans claim they support our blue-collar workers when they do nothing but hurt their bottom line. By reinstating the prevailing wage, we’re letting workers know who’s really on their side.”