Johnson: Worker Protections Upheld

Johnson: Worker Protections Upheld
Davis-Bacon Union Wage Protections to Be Reinstated

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Nancy Johnson today hailed the decision to reinstate fundamental wage protections for union workers that were previously suspended for federally-funded Gulf Coast construction projects.

President Bush today announced that Davis-Bacon prevailing (or average) wage protections would be reinstated for these projects on November 8, following through on Johnson's request that he set a date certain for lifting the suspension of Davis-Bacon law.

"Rebuilding the Gulf Coast must not be done by short-changing workers and repealing wage protections," Johnson said. "Davis-Bacon's fundamental wage protections not only promote competitive wages for union and non-union workers, they encourage high quality, on-time, on-budget construction. I'm pleased the President agreed with us and recognized the vital contribution union workers are making by upholding Davis-Bacon and ensuring fair wages."

In a September 22 letter to the President, Johnson and three dozen congressional colleagues urged him to reinstate these protections and set a date certain by November 8.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush suspended indefinitely the application of the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 in devastated areas stretching from Louisiana through Mississippi and Alabama. The Davis-Bacon Act requires an area's prevailing wages be paid to workers on federally-funded construction projects. Davis-Bacon's fundamental, 74-yearold
wage protections ensure that jobs pay both union and non-union workers fairly and competitively. Under the law, the President has the authority to suspend these protections in the event of a national emergency like Katrina.

http://www.house.gov/nancyjohnson/davis-bacon-upheld.pdf