PCCA Journal 3rd Quarter 2013 - page 53

PCCA Journal|3
rd
Quarter 2013
53
Final Word
Continued from page 54
Electronic versions of the WD-10s and
instructions for completing the survey
can be found at
-
grams/dbra/wd-10.htm.
PCCA has established a list of wage
categories that typically pertain to the
work of PCCA contractors. If we all use
the same category names, assuming the
category descriptions accurately reflect
the work being performed by the survey
participant’s workers, we stand a better
chance of having those categories recog-
nized by the Department of Labor. We
urge you to use these categories on your
wage survey and to contact PCCA if you
have any questions.
Why You Should Participate
Historically, few PCCA members have
participated in the wage survey process.
This lack of participation is not limited to
PCCA contractors but to contractors gen-
erally. On the other hand, participation by
unions is widespread. This uneven rate of
participation results in the wage deter-
mination rates reflecting far more union
dominated rates—which generally are
higher—than contractor rates. According
to a recent U.S. Government Account-
ability Office Report, of DOL’s published
wage rates as of November 2010, about 63
percent of the rates were union prevailing
wage rates despite the fact that during
the same time only about 14 percent of
construction workers nationwide were
represented by unions.
Participation by PCCA members
directly impacts the wages determined
and published by DOL. Lower participa-
tion results in missing classifications and
inaccurate, typically higher wage and
benefit rates than the actual wages and
benefits paid to PCCA members’ work-
ers. In addition, union rates reflected in
wage determinations based on collective
bargaining agreements (CBAs) are updat-
ed whenever the CBAs are updated. By
contrast, rates based on non-union data
submitted by contractors typically are
updated only every three years. What is
the result? Contractors with a non-union
(in whole or in part) workforce end up
paying higher wages that increase each
time the underlying CBAs are updated.
This is our chance to make a difference
on the prevailing wage issue. We can do
this if we work together. It’s not going to
be a quick change, but we must act now,
and we must stay in it for the long haul.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Thank You,
Jerrod Henschel
Michels Corporation, Chairman of the
PCCA Labor Issues Committee
1...,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52 54,55,56
Powered by FlippingBook