PCCA Journal 3rd Quarter 2013 - page 54

PCCA Journal|3
rd
Quarter 2013
54
T
he U.S. Department of La-
bor is conducting a wage
survey in Kansas, and
PCCA has an opportunity
to favorably influence the
determination of wage classifications and
rates for future prevailing wage projects.
Due to the Davis-Bacon Act mandates
attached to stimulus act funding of
recent broadband projects, many PCCA
members dealt with prevailing wage re-
quirements for the first time and came to
realize that the wage classifications and
determinations do not reflect the actual
work being performed on these projects.
We know that PCCA members have
been frustrated with two main problems
with Davis-Bacon wage determinations
when bidding and performing work on
broadband projects: wage and fringe
benefit rates that seem too high for the
work being performed and missing job
classifications.
The prevailing wage issue is not going
to go away, as we are seeing similar
requirements on many publicly funded
projects—schools, universities, cities,
etc. Our best strategy is to get out in
front of the issue and make sure our
input is registered. Members can directly
impact the missing classification and
rate problems by participating in the
process that sets the rates and job clas-
sifications.
How You Can Help
The Labor Department is conducting a
wage survey in Kansas for any Heavy
construction projects that were “active
and ongoing” between January 1, 2012,
and December 31, 2012. Heavy construc-
tion is a catch-all category that includes
the work our members perform. PCCA
urges all contractors who worked in Kan-
sas on projects that were active during
2012 (even if the work you performed
was not during 2012) to complete a
survey for EACH project you worked. We
also urge you to tell other contractors
and subcontractors about the survey and
ask them to participate. The agency is
collecting data until the end of 2013.
The Kansas survey is a chance to reg-
ister our input. The projects you worked
in Kansas do not have to be prevailing
wage projects or federally assisted. In
fact, the Labor Department is looking for
data from all types of projects so that the
prevailing wage reflects a true average of
what contractors pay laborers and me-
chanics. Individual responses to the sur-
vey are kept confidential. Even in cases
of Freedom of Information Act requests,
all identifying information is redacted
before the information is released.
The Labor Department collects wage
data on WD-10 survey forms. To receive
forms, contact PCCA at (703) 212-7734
or call DOL directly at (202) 693-0675.
FINALWORD
Confronting Prevailing Wage in Kansas
Use these descriptions for the Kansas wage survey if they accurately reflect the
work being performed by your employees.
Teledata Placement Operator:
Operates medium to light equipment such
as cable plows and track equipment to pull and assist cable plow, horizontal
directional machines, light-duty rubber tire backhoes, and other power/
hydraulic equipment that pertain to the installation of teledata cable. The cable
is typically installed at depths ranging from 18 inches to 72 inches. The duties
of the Teledata Placement Operator typically do not include operating heavy
equipment for moving large volumes of dirt and digging trenches that exceed 6
feet in depth.
Teledata Groundman:
Teledata cable handling, hand digging, assisting
operators in trenches less than 6-feet deep, and other tasks that pertain to the
installation of teledata cable and equipment. Mounts the network interface
device including power and grounding connections and prepares the teledata
cable for splicing. Tags and identifies the cables within the enclosure.
Teledata Landscaper:
Assists teledata crew with restoration such as placing
topsoil, raking, shoveling, placing sod, seeding, and other tasks that pertain to
the restoration of the ground after fiber cable placement.
Teledata Cable Splicer:
Terminates and cross-connects teledata cable and
performs all aspects of testing teledata cable systems such as end to end testing,
fiber optic splice loss measurements, and documentation of the test results.
Teledata Locator :
Locates and marks existing telephone fiber and copper
cables within the new construction corridor.
Teledata Lineman:
Hang strand, lash, overlash, delash, relash, set anchors,
down guys, extensions arms and hang self-support communication cables
outside of power zone.
Teledata Installer:
Install and or cut over communication lines in residence or
business limited to LV.
Jerrod Henschel,
Labor Issues Committee Chair
Wage Classifications for Kansas Survey
Continued on page 53
1...,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53 55,56
Powered by FlippingBook