REPS. FLOREN AND HETHERINGTON PROPOSE INCREASING PREVAILING WAGE THRESHOLD

HARTFORD- State Representatives Livvy Floren, R-149th and John Hetherington, R-125th District have introduced a bill this session to increase the prevailing wage threshold for municipal projects to five million dollars for new construction. The bill has been referred to the General Assembly’s Labor and Public Employees Committee.

Reps. Floren and Hetherington’s proposal is to increase the prevailing wage threshold in order to allow municipalities to save money on construction projects.

The state’s prevailing wage law requires contractors working on large public works construction projects to pay their laborers and mechanics working on the projects at least the same wages as are customarily paid for similar work in the town or city where the projects are carried on. Contractors must also make the customary contribution to any employee welfare fund that covers employees, or if there is none, pay the contributions directly to the employees.

“What a better time for this bill then now, the Federal Stimulus package has just been signed by the President and will be providing Washington, D.C., dollars to Connecticut for “Shovel Ready” projects in every town, including Greenwich and Stamford. This is one way to cut down on the cost of these construction projects during this unprecedented economic climate,” Rep. Floren said.

“I urge the Labor and Public Employees Committee to move this bill along. Without the prevailing wage requirement towns will be encouraged to start projects, plus our stimulus money will go further. As a result, more jobs will be created,” said Hetherington.