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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. John Galloway |
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Galloway fights for Pennsylvania workers
Offers bills, resolutions to protect pay and job security
HARRISBURG, April 12 – State Rep. John Galloway is preparing a House resolution honoring the 80th anniversary of the Davis-Bacon Act which required workers on federally funded construction projects be paid a prevailing wage.
President Herbert Hoover signed the act on March 3, 1931, which was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Robert L. Bacon of New York and U.S. Sen. James J. Davis of Pennsylvania.
"Pennsylvania's history of protecting working men and women is being threatened by House Republicans who are leading a charge to get rid of Pennsylvania's prevailing wage," said Galloway, D-Bucks. "We must stand firm and protect this law that protects the wages and jobs of those in the construction field."
Under the Prevailing Wage Act, companies on public works projects are required to pay their workers a wage that reflects wages commonly received in the area.
"In addition to ensuring people are paid fairly, the rate floor created by the prevailing wage encourages competition based on merit, skill and a high standard of craftsmanship, not low wages and substandard work," said Galloway.
Galloway is also working on a House resolution to encourage the state to support Project Labor Agreements on all publicly funded or guaranteed construction projects. PLAs are pre-hire labor/management contracts that ensure once a project is awarded, employees will be paid fair wages and benefits and hired locally whenever possible.
He has also reintroduced his eVerify legislation that would save Pennsylvania construction jobs by requiring contractors to verify the employment eligibility of their employees.
House Bill 379, which would require state contractors and subcontractors on public projects to verify the employment eligibility of their employees, is currently in the House State Government Committee; H.B. 380, which would require all contractors in the construction industry to verify the employment eligibility of their employees, is currently before the House Labor and Industry Committee. Both bills would require use of the Social Security Number Verification Service to verify existing employees and the eVerify program for newly hired employees. Contractors that violate these rules would be barred from state projects or, in the case of private construction work, face forfeiture of state licenses or certifications.
"My pro-labor legislation protecting the jobs of Pennsylvania citizens are more important than ever as families struggle to make ends meet in this poor economy," said Galloway. "Now is not the time to allow unscrupulous contractors to give good-paying jobs to illegal workers, or deny a family-sustaining wage to workers who are constructing schools and government buildings on the taxpayers' dime."