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. Scott Dianda (D- Calumet) issued the following statement:
“Every worker should earn a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. Workers in the U.P., who operate in some of the worst and coldest weather in the state, know especially what hard work looks like. Repealing our prevailing wage laws means that these workers will take home less pay, stealing money from the pocketbooks of thousands of Michigan families. The people of the Upper Peninsula can’t pay their bills, invest in their kids’ education or plan for the future if they take a pay cut. We need prevailing wage laws because they ensure good jobs for workers and our young people who want to work in construction and the trades. Prevailing wage laws guarantee fair wages and ultimately protect our working families. That’s a battle I’m always willing to fight.”