Dallas legislator aims to stop wage requirements in incentive deals

[TexasTowelie]

Texas lawmakers are stepping into a debate about whether Austin should require companies to pay a “living wage” to construction workers to qualify for economic development deals.

State Rep. Kenneth Sheets, R-Dallas, said a group of minority contractors told him they would have difficulty paying the $11-an-hour living wage to the laborers they hire, making those contractors less likely to get a piece of the publicly subsidized projects. Sheets filed legislation last month that would bar cities from mandating any wage requirements as part of economic incentive packages, such as the ones Austin has offered to Apple and the developer of a downtown Marriott hotel now under construction, and is considering offering to National Instruments.

“The unintended consequences of these prevailing wages outweigh any noble act they are trying to make,” Sheets said. “I think it becomes more concerning because, what are they cutting? Are they cutting when it comes to worker safety? … Are we sacrificing quality to cut the bids in other areas in order to meet the prevailing wage?”

If it becomes law, Sheets’ proposal would trump an upcoming Austin City Council vote on whether to require a living wage as a minimum wage for construction workers as part of economic incentive packages. The city of San Antonio and the Travis County government already have that provision in place. (The proposed state law wouldn’t apply to county governments.)

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/dallas-legislator-aims-to-stop-wage-requirements-i/nWf5c/ .

[font color=green]Subsidize the corporation and screw the workers. Should we expect anything else from a Republican?[/font]

[Downwinder]

1. I don't know who is making things up, but I suspect it is the

one with an R after his name.

"State Rep. Kenneth Sheets, R-Dallas, said a group of minority contractors told him they would have difficulty paying the $11-an-hour living wage to the laborers they hire, making those contractors less likely to get a piece of the publicly subsidized projects."

Why would it be more difficult for a minority contractor to pay $11-an-hour than a non-minority contractor?

[blkmusclmachine]

2. Aim: labor for nothin'.

[mbperrin]

3. 30 years ago, when my spouse and I were doing construction and remodeling,

we charged $5 a sheet labor to put up sheetrock. We averaged about 10 sheets an hour, so drew $50 an hour for the pair of us, or $25 each. For another $10 a sheet, we'd tape, bed, and texture ready to paint, your choice of any spray texture, add $5 for hand texture of your choice. That works to about the same $25 per hour each. We had all the work we could handle, right up to where I wore out my shoulders, working 60-80 hours per week.

And $11 is a problem now? Must be some dumb contractors, or else they think we're dumb enough to believe that number.