January 26, 2017

Eliminating Prevailing Wage Undercuts Middle Class Americans

(WASHINGTON) – With his introduction of legislation to eliminate prevailing wage on federal infrastructure and construction projects this week, U.S. Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) has leveled a vicious attack on livelihoods of millions of middle class workers.

Sen. Flake’s legislation, the Transportation Investment Recalibration to Equality (TIRE) Act, proposes a repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act, which has helped to ensure fair wages are paid on construction projects across the country since its passage in 1931. This amounts to a massive wage cut for millions of workers just as the federal government starts to move toward making real investments in infrastructure projects.

“Sen. Flake’s crusade to repeal Davis-Bacon shows his ignorance of the current plight of working Americans,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “What does it say about Sen. Flake’s priorities, when in a time when men and women of this country are calling on their leaders to create good jobs to our country, he wants to slash wages across the construction industry? Perhaps Sen. Flake would be better served by listening to his constituents and not the lobbyists for big business.”

The Teamsters Union has been a vocal advocate for the creation of good jobs through investment in the nation’s infrastructure. In 2015, the union launched the “Let’s Get America Working!” campaign to encourage both Democratic and Republican lawmakers to work together to focus on this task.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information.

Press Contact:
Galen Munroe
Email: gmunroe@teamster.org
Phone: (202) 624-6911