White House Heeds Landrieu's Call; Reinstates Fair Wages for Louisiana Wages
White House rescinds waiver of Davis-Bacon Act, reinstates prevailing wage rules for hurricane recovery.
October 26, 2005
| Fighting for Louisiana Workers | |
After weeks of pressure by United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and others, particularly Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., the White House today announced that it would rescind its waiver of the Davis-Bacon Act effective November 8, the Associated Press reported. The 1931 law ensures that workers employed under federal contracts receive the standard prevailing wage - or local average wage - for their trade. The President had unwisely suspended these rules last month following Hurricane Katrina.
"Today's change of course by the White House is a significant victory for Louisiana workers and the basic American principles of fairness," Sen. Landrieu said. "These hardworking, taxpaying Louisianians did not ask for special favors or handouts after the devastating hurricanes. They asked only to participate in the rebuilding of their own homes and communities, and to earn a fair wage doing so.
"Instead, this Administration chose to allow no-bid contractors to line their pockets by employing out-of-state and often undocumented workers in place of skilled and ready Louisianians. I hope this is the first of many U-turns as the White House recognizes its mistakes in responding to this unprecedented disaster and finally works to correct them."
| What is the Davis-Bacon Act? | |
The Davis-Bacon Act was established in 1931 and requires that a "prevailing wage" be paid for all public works projects, including all federal government construction contracts. The prevailing wage is determined by the Department of Labor by parish and occupation and are reflective of local wage conditions. Learn more Below is a list of the hourly prevailing wage in Orleans Parish for a variety of jobs:
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage Hour Division |
Last week, in response to a letter from Sen. Landrieu to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it was investigating reports of contractors utilizing undocumented workers for hurricane recovery projects. ICE agents identified at least ten undocumented workers employed in operations by a Halliburton subcontractor at the Belle Chase Naval Air Station outside New Orleans.
A group of skilled Louisiana electricians had testified at a hearing called earlier in the week by U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., that they had been dismissed from the Belle Chase work site after only two weeks of a twenty-month commitment. In their limited time on the base, the electricians testified that they had been asked to train unskilled, lesser-paid and non-English-speaking workers to take their place.
"I have said it before, and I will say it again: Louisiana will be rebuilt by Louisianians," Sen. Landrieu said. "Hopefully now Louisiana workers will be able to reclaim their rightful place at the head of the line for jobs rebuilding their homes and neighborhoods.
"All Americans deserve a federal government that's on their side, especially in such an unprecedented time of disaster and recovery. That includes guaranteeing fair pay for a hard day's work."
Photographs from Press Conferecence with Senators Landrieu and Dorgan
PHOTO CREDIT: United States Senate
|
|
|
|
|
|
Landrieu fights for Louisiana workers; calls for hearing into "unscrupulous" practices
October 24, 2005
U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., called on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship today to investigate federal contractors' hiring of low-wage undocumented workers for Gulf Coast Reconstruction. In a letter delivered this morning to the Subcommittee's Chair and Ranking Member, Senators John Cornyn, R-Tex., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., Sen. Landrieu called for hearings into the Department of Homeland Security's response to the growing problem, and encourage more thorough action on the part of the federal government.
"I am afraid only expedited action from Congress, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor will keep these violations of law in check," Sen. Landrieu wrote.
"While the practice by subcontractors of employing illegal aliens is damaging under normal circumstances, at this time it is devastating," Sen. Landrieu continued, noting that 478,000 Americans have lost their jobs following the devastation cause by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well as the breach of the New Orleans levees. READ MORE
Sen. Landrieu sends letter to Secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security
October 18, 2005
The Department of Homeland Security must adopt a zero tolerance policy for government contractors hiring undocumented workers for Gulf Coast reconstruction, according to a letter sent by U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La today to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
"The use of undocumented workers in federal contracts for hurricane relief comes at the direct expense of hurricane victims," Sen. Landrieu wrote, describing how local workers are locked out of employment opportunities by contractors that circumvent existing labor laws to hire undocumented workers at lower wages. "While my state experiences unemployment rates not seen since the Great Depression, it is unconscionable that illegal workers would be brought into Louisiana aggravating our employment crisis and depressing earnings for our workers." READ MORE