Wis. governor proposes tying wages to public funds
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed that all developers getting government help pay their construction workers the prevailing wage.
The prevailing wage varies by county and type of construction work. But in Milwaukee County and other areas with strong unions, it's often union-level pay.
Some developers say requiring them to pay that amount would drive up their costs and make it harder to get private loans.
The provision in Doyle's budget plan applies to projects receiving financing assistance from cities and other local governments.
The prevailing wage is already required on tax-paid public works, such as road construction.
Construction union official Lyle Balistreri says requiring the prevailing wage would ensure companies don't take advantage of workers.
Mar 13, 2009 at 7:59 a.m.
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I already work 10-12 hour days and sometimes 7 days a week.
Mar 12, 2009 at 5:40 p.m.
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Oh, I see -now- gee how stupid of me-like the "gain" of being able to sit around, not working and still collecting 95% of my wages and benefits- where do I sign up for that one? And all those "gains" don't-mean diddly if I don't have a job- and you are right it is not all the fault of the unions, but neither are they completely blameless
Mar 12, 2009 at 4:36 p.m.
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So sorry sprout and biggirl-but in case you have not noticed it is a world economy-seems pretty hypocritical that you have no problem with wanting the rest of the world to buy American made products, but we are not expected to buy "foreign made crap"-in case you have not noticed that foreign made "crap" has been of much better quality than what Americans produce. Unions obviously have not protected anyone from losing their job lately-all they have done is priced themselves out of the job market
Mar 12, 2009 at 4:08 p.m.
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Anyone against unions should go to a country without them. Perhaps you'd like employers to require women to have hysterectomies before they're employed as they do in Russia. The unions gave us all these rules and regulations, many of them now unenforced, that make our quality of life better. Wonder why Walmart has a whole team to prevent any union from taking hold? Could it be that, if unionized, workers would actually demand a living wage, healthcare, and a non-discriminatory policy toward workers? We should all want this, as we pay lots of money as a state to provide healthcare for their employees.
Mar 12, 2009 at 12:36 p.m.
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Unions are partly responsible for the mess we find ourselves in today! Bet a lot of your "union brothers" would love to be working 12 hour days right now as opposed to not working at all!
Mar 12, 2009 at 12:03 p.m.
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Never take Govt money, Doyle is just going along with sheridan
Mar 12, 2009 at 11:39 a.m.
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superdave I'm with you, but doyle has to raise money and look like he did something before the next election!!! He doesn't want the people thinking he just spent this state into a huge deficit, even though that's exactly what he did. Now he's going to fee us to death too!!!!
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:53 a.m.
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Is there really a problem with companies "taking advantage" of workers?
How about we let the free market work? And enforce the existing laws? And stop passing more laws that only cost everyone more money? This idea is a job-killer!
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