The Davis-Bacon Act, at both the federal and state levels, was designed to outlaw wage exploitation in public construction contracts by preventing the undercutting of local standards.
Critics say they are outdated laws that force the government to pay more than is necessary.
But those who would throw out or weaken prevailing wage laws have failed to succeed. The Washington State Labor Council is very concerned that our state's prevailing wage law be preserved, if not strengthened, to protect workers, communities and government. When our tax dollars are spent on public construction, family-wage jobs should be maintained or created, and superior work should be expected. We should not reward them with public contracts. There is no evidence that prevailing wage laws result in higher costs for the government.