What does 'the least prevailing wages' mean?

[cynatnite]

The Davis-Bacon law requires federal contractors to pay workers at least the prevailing wages in the area where the work is conducted. It applies to federally funded construction projects such as highways and bridges.

Bush's executive order suspends the requirements of the Davis-Bacon law for designated areas hit by the storm.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/08/news/economy/katrina_wages.reut/index.htm

Does this mean they can pay workers just about whatever they want?

[Oreo]

1. Have any unions spoke up about this yet?

I'm sure they're all pissed

[peacebuzzard]

9. The unions are in the slaughterhouse

for the kill. The ones in line, are gasping and stumbling in the fighters ring with the nation's mega multi corporate looters. And, unfortunately the unions are for the most part, loosing big time right now.

[hwmnbn]

2. slave wages....eom

[rodeodance]

3. the WH mentality is that people should be thankful for any job that

comes their way regardless if it pays well or not.

[meegbear]

4. Here's a link on it

http://compensation.blr.com/topic.cfm/topic/256/state/155

[acmejack]

5. On Govt contracts prevailing wage is based on union scale for that job.

We were paid more money when we worked on federal jobs. These were at Portland Naval Shipyard.

[gollygee]

6. Prevailing wages are based on union wages

so when contractors are bidding governmental contracts, everyone has to pay their employees the same wage so that union shops can compete with non-union shops. Prevailing wages are very high.

The issue is that bush doenst' want union shops to be able to compete.

[unrepuke]

7. When Bush says he wants a "Free Society" - maybe he means

Free, like slave labor.

The Halliburton moguls will charge and over charge and then get cost overrides, and then it will turn out that they absconded with most of the funds, anyway -- to get any work done they want volunteers and minimum wagers, or less.

[rodeodance]

8. example--if in the area a roofer typically got 15 an hour, this order says

that the boss does not have to pay this wage. He can legally say he will only pay $12/hr.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

10. The Davis Bacon Act was enacted back during the 30s to ensure

a fair, living wage for everyone. Back during the depression laborers, especially from the south, were flooding the northeast region of the country and taking jobs for lesser wages than what northern workers were receiving at the time. This allowed contractors to use people who would have done anything for a job and boot the workers receiving the high wages. (Didn't save any money for the government - just put more in the contractors pockets.) The unions got together and got Davis Bacon enacted to ensure that all government contracts were forced to used the prevailing wage of the region as a wage baseline instead of letting corporate leaders use the poor and less fortunate.

The repugs have been trying for years and years to get rid of this Act. Back in 1995 I was at a conference in DC that was comprised overwhelmingly by repugs and this was a major component of their agenda. (Another was privatizing Social Security, doing away with the Department of Education, lowering minimum wage, and getting Clinton out of office.) They were a frightening bunch. All they needed were brown shirts and a funky salute and it would have been complete.

[BarbaRosa]

11. On par with India.