FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Susan 573-751-1518
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 10, 2011
Missouri Prevailing Wage Rates Set for State Highways and Transportation Construction Projects
General Wage Order No. 55 Now in Effect
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Labor Department’s Division of Labor Standards announced that General Wage Order No. 55 is now in effect establishing the new prevailing wage rates for use on all Missouri State Highways and Transportation construction projects.
The General Wage Order No. 55 contains prevailing wage rates for each county and the city of St. Louis for the following occupations: laborer, truck driver teamster, operating engineer, carpenter, traffic control service [engineer] driver, cement mason, iron worker, electrician- inside wireman, electrician- outside, and painter. The prevailing wage is the minimum rate that must be paid to workers on all Missouri State Highways and Transportation construction projects.
“Prevailing wage promotes and protects economic stability,” says Department of Labor Director Larry Rebman. “It is crucial during these tough economic times that Missourians working to make our roads and highways safe are paid the wages they deserve.”
The Division of Labor Standards is responsible for gathering wage information from public and private construction projects statewide on an ongoing basis from contractors, labor organizations and public entities. The Division uses wage information to learn wage rates actually paid to workers in each of the ten different occupational titles for every Missouri county and the city of St. Louis. The largest number of hours reported at a given wage rate for the occupational title in the county becomes the prevailing wage rate.
Each year on or before July 1, the Division files a General Wage Order with the Secretary of State with a 30 day objection period. If there are no objections, the prevailing wage rates established by the Division are final.
From July of 2010 to July of 2011, the Division received 321 prevailing wage complaints and found 160 violations. Contractors that do not pay the required prevailing wage rates to their workers are subject to $100.00 per day penalty per unpaid worker. Cases in which the Division determines contractors have willfully violated the prevailing wage law are referred to the local prosecuting attorney who may then file criminal charges against the contractor for up to $500 in fines or six months in jail per violation. In addition, when contractors are convicted or have pled guilty to violating the prevailing wage law, the Division will file notice with the Secretary of State to debar the contractor from working on any public works project
To view the General Wage Order No. 55 or for additional information, please visit www.labor.mo.gov/DLS/PrevailingWage/gwo.asp. Employees on public works projects who are not receiving prevailing wage rates should file a complaint by filling out the complaint form, www.labor.mo.gov/DLS/PrevailingWage/file_complaint.asp or calling (573) 751-3403.
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