Labor and Public Employees Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6378
Title: AN ACT CODIFYING PREVAILING WAGE CONTRACT RATES.
Vote Date: 2/18/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 2/9/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Labor and Public Employees Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill removes several inefficient and time-consuming requirements that add no value to
the current process of posting prevailing wage rates. The U.S.DOL has not been timely or
reliable in updating their wage determinations and this has led to delays and unnecessary
confusion for contractors. It is a common-sense proposal because it seeks to protect CT's
construction industry.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
None.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
DAVID HUNT, CIEA PRESIDENT, CT IRON WORKERS EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION
It is critically important to protect the integrity of CT's prevailing wage law. This is not a
measure to expand prevailing wage protections into other areas or arbitrarily raise wages. It
is meant to simply protect the current law.
JIM LOHR, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NORTH ATLANTIC STATES CARPENTERS LABOR-
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Administratively, this bill will make it easier to address the delays in posting new collective
bargaining rates that can result from waiting for the federal government to process and
change to the agreements. Jurisdictional disputes are not uncommon in the construction
industry between various trades. They suggest adding the following language that is
commonly found in many construction agreements and is considered an industry standard.
Lines 24-25 be changed to:"the dominant collective bargaining agreement, as determined by
area practice, shall prevail". Their other concern is that the bill only codifies changes for
prevailing rate contract rates for the heavy or highway and building sectors. It does not
include public area.
BRIAN W. DUNN, BUSINESS MANAGER, Local Union 669
This bill is a preventative measure. Over half the prevailing wage states in the nation accept
the CBA rates when determining their prevailing wage rate. This is a good government
proposal that will protect the construction industry from mismanagement and artificially driven
wages.
BILL FINCH, BUSINESS DEVELOOPMENT NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
ASSOCIATION CT., LABOR MANAGEMENT COOPOERATION COMMITTEE
This law enables CT contractors to use the numbers they have supplied to the feds rather
than wait for that exact same number to be reported back to them by the federal government.
Electrical contractors, and the electricians who work for them, will be saved from
unnecessary bookkeeping headaches.
KIMBERLY GLASSMAN, DIRECTOR, FOUNDATION FOR FAIR CONTRACTING OF CT
It is critically important that this bill passes now to protect the integrity of our state's prevailing
wage law. It is not a measure to expand prevailing wage protections into other areas or to
arbitrarily raise wages. It is meant to protect the current law. This is nothing radical. Over half
of the prevailing wage states in the nation accept the CBA rates when determining their
prevailing wage rate.
GARRY GYENIZS, BUSINESS MANAGER, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL UNION OF
COOPERATING ENGINEERS, LOCAL 478
This bill removes several inefficient and time-consuming requirements that add no value to
the current process of posting the prevailing wage rates. The Connecticut Department of
Labor must update the prevailing wage rates every July 1 st. What that means is that the U.S.
Department of Labor must also update any rates to reflect any escalations or changes to a
classification. Unfortunately, however, the U.S. DOL has not been timely or reliable in
updating their wage determinations. This has led to administrative delays within the CT DOL
and to unnecessary confusion for contractors.
BRIAN ANDERSON, LEGISLATLIVE COORDIONATOR, COUNCIL 4 AFSME
CT construction workers are under heavy economic stress. Some trade locals have
employment rates as high as 50%. CT need to maintain a trained and professional force of
trades people. Codifying the federal prevailing rates determined by the market does this.
STEPHEN ANDERSON, PRESIDENT, CSEA SEIU LOCAL 2001
This bill will protect our state's construction workers from any attempt to artificially drive down
wages and ensure the construction industry remains a crucial part of our state's economic
landscape.
KEITH BROTHERS, BUSINESS MANAGER/SECRETARY TREASUIRER, CT LABORERS'
DISTRICT COUNCIL
Neighboring states have little or no prevailing wage thresholds which induces their members
to seek work there. This is not helpful during a time when our state needs every qualified
Page 2 of 4 HB-6378
worker to rebuild our infrastructure and major projects. This would be a more efficient method
of determining and applying the prevailing wage.
MICHAEL THOMPSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATED SHEET METAL &
ROOFING CONTRACTORS OF CONNECTICUT
The current method for processing prevailing wage postings is inefficient, cumbersome, time
consuming and prone to error. By removing the intermediary, this bill would allow
organizations and bargaining units to work directly with CTDOT in a more efficient and timely
manner.
DON SHUBERT, CT CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION, INC.
Along with CCIA, there are other associations or bargaining units participating in the current
cumbersome scheme that represent various building trades, Other states have prevailing
wage laws that operate in a far more efficient and CT should follow their procedures as well.
CAMERON CHAMPLIN, LOBBIEST, PLUMMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS LOCAL LUNION
777
He told of his personal experiences starting with an apprenticeship in 1965 which went on to
a successful career as business manager for his local union. He is very familiar with
collective bargaining and said this bill will make the posting of current prevailing wage sooner
and ensure all bidders will have the correct information for filing bids.
CARL CHISEM, PRESIDENT, CONNECTICUT EMPLOYEES UNION INDEPENDENT, SEIU
LOCAL 511
Prevailing wage laws ensure that hourly wages paid to construction workers are maintained
to prevent low bid construction projects from destabilizing the local economy and to advance
workforce development. This bill would guarantee the collective bargaining rate is the market
rate.
MICHAEL A. D'AMICO, INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, IBEW SECOND DISTRICT
As written, this bill would not artificially raise wager or expand the current prevailing wage
rate protections. It would streamline the current administrative process. Strong prevailing
wage laws and protections are crucial to building and replenishing our workforce and
economy. Strong laws would help young people consider the construction industry as a
viable career path.
JAMES DENNING, BUSINESS AGENT, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE,
STRUCTURAL, ORNAMENTAL AND REINFORCING IRON WORKERS, LOCAL UNION #
15
This bill is a good government proposal that will protect our state's construction industry from
mismanagement within the U.S. DOL and from any attempts to artificially drive down wages.
JOHN DeROSA, INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS, LOCAL 91
The CTDOL must update the prevailing wage rates every July 1st, and the U.S. DOL must do
the same to reflect any escalations or changes to a classification. The U.S. DOL has not
been timely or reliable in updating their wage determinations which led to administrative
delays within the CTDOL and unnecessary confusion for contractors. This bill would help this
situation.
Page 3 of 4 HB-6378
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
BETSY GARA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CT COUNSIL OF SMALL TOWNS
COST urges lawmakers to oppose this bill because it would dramatically increase the cost of
state and municipal construction projects, including schools, fire houses, public safety
complexes and other critical projects. This bill flies in the face of the economic realities that
are facing our towns and cities. They encourage increasing the project thresholds for
renovations that trigger prevailing wage requirements. Numerous studies confirm prevailing
wage laws artificially inflate construction costs. Towns are finding that due to the small size
and duration of these projects, such as salt sheds, town garages, sidewalks and curb
reconstruction, large in-state contractors are not bidding and small local contractors are
steering clear of smaller prevailing wage jobs due to the cumbersome administrative
requirement.
Reported by: Marie Knudsen, Assistant Clerk Date: 3/9/2021
Page 4 of 4 HB-6378


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 31-54
LAB Joint Favorable: 31-54
File No. 25: 31-54
File No. 631: 31-54
Public Act No. 21-154: 31-54