By Mark Rysberg, Esq. In 2018, the Michigan Legislature repealed Michigan’s prevailing wage statute following a citizen led initiative to repeal the same. A group supporting prevailing wage law, Protect Michigan Jobs, recently challenged the validity of the repealing...
Prevailing Wages
The Michigan Supreme Court Moves Forward on Prevailing Wage Repeal
By Stephen A. Hilger On May 30, 2018, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an Order clearing the way for the repeal of prevailing wage laws. The Plaintiff, Protecting Michigan Taxpayers, organized a ballot question committee that sought to repeal Michigan's Prevailing...
Michigan Prevailing Wage Update
Michigan’s prevailing wage law faces potential repeal in 2017. The first three bills proposed by the Michigan Senate are directed at repealing the laws that require labor on Michigan public construction projects be paid at prevailing wage rates akin to union-level wages. This is not the first time this issue has surfaced in Michigan and in other states across the country.
Proponents of repealing prevailing wage contend that requiring higher labor costs is passed through to the taxpayers whereas the opposition claims that prevailing wage results in higher-quality public improvements and a fair wage for the people of Michigan that perform the improvements. The debate over these issues is expected to be heated and continue throughout the year. Check back for additional updates about this issue and the future of Michigan’s prevailing wage legislation on public construction projects.
Michigan’s Prevailing Wage Act – Committee Report on Fiscal Impact
By: Mark A. Rysberg Earlier this year, the Michigan Senate voted to approve bills repealing Michigan’s prevailing wage laws. Eventually, those bills were submitted for fiscal analysis by the Senate Committee on Michigan Competitiveness. That analysis was recently...
Michigan Prevailing Wage Act – Where Things Stand
By: Mark A. Rysberg When the Michigan Senate voted to approve bills repealing Michigan’s prevailing wage laws, the future of those bills became uncertain in the face of a likely veto by the governor. Advocates of repealing wage then turned to a provision of the...
Prevailing Wage Repeal and Withdrawal Liability
By: Mark A. Rysberg There has been no shortage of discussion regarding the possible repeal of Michigan’s prevailing wage act. However, one topic that has not been part of the conversation is the possible interplay between repealing prevailing wage and complete...