GOP states go after wage laws

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Oerets

The GOP see this as a problem with prices of goods and taxes being to high. Wages would be fine if everything was cheaper. So just outsource jobs to other countries or better yet get a machine to do it. Get them cost down!


Barney

One doesn't outsource construction to other countries. A facility built in Beijing doesn't serve meet the demands of a customer who needs a facility built in Boston.

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by finnbow

One doesn't outsource construction to other countries. A facility built in Beijing doesn't serve meet the demands of a customer who needs a facility built in Boston.

Don't be too sure.

California Turns To China For New Bay Bridge

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/16/140515...new-bay-bridge


I really cannot fathom as to why Caltrans had to go to China to get the steel structure built. Besides, the bridge construction was still way over budget and delayed. Having said that, I am still not a fan of unions negotiating with governments. On the private sector, whatever works.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

Don't be too sure.

California Turns To China For New Bay Bridge

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/16/140515...new-bay-bridge


I really cannot fathom as to why Caltrans had to go to China to get the steel structure built. Besides, the bridge construction was still way over budget and delayed. Having said that, I am still not a fan of unions negotiating with governments. On the private sector, whatever works.

That has nothing to do with the Davis-Bacon Act. The Davis-Bacon Act does not impose American labor rates on foreign suppliers. Never has, never will. OTOH, the Buy American Act does would have compelled the use of American structural components, but this is not a Federally funded project.

I have nothing against the use of the Buy American Act for Federally-funded projects in the US. In fact, I strongly support it. OTOH, I have managed projects in Germany where we had Buy America provisions for inferior and more expensive American mechanical system components that arguably didn't meet local codes.

The Davis-Bacon Act is another kettle of fish altogether. It was passed in 1931 to keep contractors from bringing workers from the countryside to build projects in union-dominated big cities. Nowadays, it doesn't serve the public interest to give 13% of the construction industry (i.e., union contractors) a government-imposed advantage over the other 87% of construction contractors/workers, particularly when union contractors and their unions insist that they're cheaper due to efficiency, skill and safety. If that were indeed true, they wouldn't need an artificial advantage that drives up construction costs for the taxpayer.

[Tom Joad]

I'd like to know where Bernie stands on this issue.

And Elizabeth Warren too.

I trust them on economic issues.

[Boreas]

Qatar World Cup construction projects.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Boreas

Qatar World Cup construction projects.

Comparing a Mideast country where no citizen works (and without labor laws) with the US is a stretch.