Kamala Harris unveils unions-supported ‘prevailing wage’ rule alteration.
Vice President Kamala Harris Announces Proposed Rule Change to Raise Wages for Construction Workers
Vice President Kamala Harris made an exciting announcement on Tuesday, revealing that a new rule from the Biden administration could potentially increase wages for construction workers on federal jobs by thousands of dollars each year. Speaking in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Harris unveiled the first proposed rule change to the Davis-Bacon Act since the Reagan administration, a change that could positively impact over 1 million construction workers.
A Rejection of Trickle-Down Economics
Harris’s remarks echoed the sentiments of President Biden, who has rejected the “trickle-down” philosophy of the Reagan years in favor of the “Bidenomics” plan. Emphasizing the administration’s commitment to fair wages, Harris stated, “In the Biden-Harris administration, we strongly believe every worker deserves fair wages for their work. Today’s announcement is part of a larger strategy. For far too long, our economy has not been working for working people. Trickle-down economics benefited big corporations and the wealthiest Americans, but not workers.”
Highlighting the importance of investing in workers, Harris continued, “Our theory and our agenda around investing in folks like those who are here is working for America’s economy. This is about workers, and it is about the strength of our nation and seeing the connection. I was raised by a mother who taught me as a child that there is dignity in all work, that every worker deserves respect, that every worker deserves a voice, and that every worker deserves to be paid a fair wage. So, President Biden and I, with you, we’re going to keep fighting to build an economy that recognizes the dignity of all work, and all workers, an economy that supports working families, and an economy that allows all people to thrive. That is Bidenomics, and that is the future we are building together with everyone here.”
A Significant Update to Prevailing Wage Standards
The Department of Labor’s proposed rule change would lower the “prevailing wage” threshold for federal construction jobs to 30%, a threshold that had been raised to 50% almost four decades ago. Senior administration officials have hailed this move as the “most significant” update to prevailing wage standards in 30 years.
While the change has garnered widespread support from labor unions, a crucial pillar of the Biden coalition, opponents argue that lowering the threshold would increase the cost of federal projects due to the higher wages that workers would need to be paid.
To hear Vice President Harris’s full remarks, watch the video below:
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