LANSING — Today, the House of Representatives voted on a proposal to repeal the state’s prevailing wage law, which ensured that workers on state projects were paid a fair wage. The proposal passed by a vote of 56-53. In response, state Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn) issued the following statement:
“After significant handouts and tax breaks to corporations and CEOs, this Republican-led Legislature is yet again adding another barrier to residents earning a living wage. The need for investment in skilled trades is constantly stressed by our state’s legislators, yet many of them continue to attack the very things that attract workers to the skilled trades in the first place.
“The repeal of prevailing wage will not save our state money, but instead will encourage underbidding and serve to take jobs away from Michigan’s own workers. We need only look at other states, such as Indiana, to see the negative outcomes of this policy. Families struggle, while those at the top continue to line their pockets with greater profits. Today’s vote does nothing to encourage people from joining the trades. Rather, it will generate a greater shortage in these fields, and attack the ability of our working men and women to bring home a dignified wage.
“This is a sad day for Michigan workers and families. I stand with them, not irresponsible contractors that refuse to pay their employees appropriate wages and benefits. We need to invest in our workers, and our state, not continue to undercut our working people fighting to earn a living for their families.”
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