Michigan Legislature poised to repeal prevailing wage law

LANSING, Mich. — A 53-year-old Michigan law that guarantees higher “prevailing” wages for construction workers on state-financed projects could soon be nullified.

The Republican-controlled Legislature this week is poised to repeal the statute, which would make Michigan the fifth state to annul its prevailing wage law since 2015. Though GOP Gov. Rick Snyder opposes the bill, it is veto-proof because it was initiated through a ballot drive by nonunion contractors.

“It’s about providing relief for taxpayers, because when they buy a building it makes no sense for them to pay extra just because of prevailing wage when other folks can build the same building to the same standard for less cost to the taxpayer,” said Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekof, a West Olive Republican who has long pushed to nix the law, which is modeled after a U.S. law applying to federal projects.

On the other side are union contractors, organized labor, Democrats and others who say the 1965 statute ensures that workers are paid fairly and quality work is done on schools, fire stations and other public works projects. A repeal, they contend, would also squeeze training programs provided by unions.