The Prevailing Wage Law now will be able to function as intended because the Ridge Administration has taken the initiative to determine rates which truly reflect local wages on construction projects in each of our counties. The 1961 law, however, has been widely criticized as contributing to higher costs because traditionally only collectively bargained wages had been used to set rates. Gov. Tom Ridge directed Butler and the Department of Labor and Industry to review the procedures for setting wage rates and establish a more fair and accurate system. The survey, which received more than 35,000 responses, was designed to determine actual wages and benefits paid on Pennsylvania construction projects to form the basis for establishing prevailing minimum wage rates. Summarizing the results of the survey, Butler noted that roughly 48 percent of the wage rates the Department is establishing will be union scale wages.
Mixed rates are a combination of union wage rates and weighted averages.
Nearly a third of all the cost savings in Pennsylvania could be realized in York and Lancaster counties, Butler noted. The Ridge Administration has consistently maintained its support for a strong prevailing minimum wage which ensures our working Pennsylvanians a family-supporting income. We are equally strong in our support of a wage that truly reflects the local community and lessens the burden on our taxpayers. Butler was joined by York County state legislators, including Sen. Dan Delp and Reps. Mike Waugh, Todd Platts and Stan Saylor, as well as several other county and municipal government leaders and school board association members.