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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2006)
...PDC closer to setting wage policy on mixed-use projects (From Page 1) private projects,” said Bob Shiprack, executive secretary-treasurer of the Oregon State Building and Construc- tion Trades Council. “PDC is trying to draw a very clear line (as to when the prevailing wage law should apply)” Commissioners directed PDC staff to develop a “draft wage policy” that outlines specific requirements for when a privately-owned project that receives PDC funding would be subject to pre- vailing wage rates. It also wants the wage policy to include language that will expand opportunities for minorities and women in construction. Commissioners set forth the follow- ing requirements to be included in the draft wage policy: • A specific amount of PDC invest- ment which would require prevailing wage rates. • A specific percentage of total proj- ect cost which would require prevailing wage rates. • A specific amount of PDC invest- ment, below which prevailing wage would not apply. The draft wage policy will exempt certain smaller scale forms of PDC pro- grammatic investment such as business and tenant assistance programs and ...Union-made goods (From Page 3) products; Godiva chocolates; Coastal Berry Co. fruit and nuts; Montpelier Almonds; Sunkist citrus fruit; Sun- world citrus fruit; Airdrome citrus fruit; Big Jim citrus fruit; Maui Pineapple Co. — Hawaiian God, Maui Gold, Jet Fresh Maui, Maui Or- ganic and Champaka; Ghirardelli chocolates; and Brown & Halley can- dies. FRESH FRUITS: Butterfly; Mann’s CA; Penguin; Pickup; Sun- flavor CA; Elwin R. Mann apples; Airdrome*, Big Jim*, Sunkist* Sunworld citrus* (grapefruit, lemons, oranges, tangerines); Swan- ton Berry strawberries; Montpelier almonds; Brown Date Garden dates. * Only those with United Farm Workers Black Eagle label. VEGETABLES: Fresh: Family Farms mushrooms; Vlasic Farms mushrooms (California); Red Coach lettuce; Muranaka*, Sonza-Boster. Frozen: Bird’s Eye; Freshlike; Hanover; Sparten. Canned: B&B mushrooms; Festal; Freemont DECEMBER 15, 2006 sauerkraut; Goya blackeye and chickpeas; Green Giant; Hanover; Libbey’s; Kroger cut green beans, peeled whole tomatoes, whole ker- nel corn; Tendersweet. * Only those with United Farm Workers Black Eagle label. CONDIMENTS: Aunt Jemima; Cattlemen’s; Colonial; Colonial Salt; Diamond Crystal Salt; Durkee; Dutch Mill; Ebro; Flake; French’s mustard; Fry Krisp Guldens mustard Heinz Catsup; Heinz Ketchup; Hidden Val- ley Ranch; Hormel; Jefferson Island; JIF peanut butter; Ken Salad Dress- ing; Kernal Fresh; Kitchen Bouquet; Leslie; Lucky Whip; Monarch salt; Monterey mushrooms; Morton salts; Mrs. Butterworth’s; Nifda salt; Open Pit Onion, Sweet, Thick & Tangy Smoked Grill, T & T Sugar and Spice, T&T Original, Thick and Hickory, Traditional; Pace; Peanut Butter Crunch; Red & White Salt; Red Cross; Red, White and Blue; Saucy Sweet and Sour Sauce; Sorrell Ridge; Sterling Salt; Sunflower & Scotts; Su- san & Polynesian; Sysco Salt; Van Holtens; Vince & Son’s; Vlasic; Watkins sauces, Watkins spices. new market tax credits, as well as af- fordable housing projects (in accor- dance with a recent agreement reached between the Community Development Network and construction unions.) At the Dec. 6 meeting, PDC Com- missioner Charles Wilhoite referred to a $750,000 threshold for triggering pre- vailing wage requirements. Shiprack confirmed that in meetings with PDC staff, building trades union officials tentatively agreed that if PDC’s investment in a project is less than $750,000, the project would not prevail. If more than 25 percent of a PDC proj- ect comes from public funds, the proj- ect would prevail. “It’s a true compromise by the unions,” Shiprack said. Under state law, a project prevails if it is more than $50,000. Shiprack told the NY Labor Press that if the finalized PDC wage policy is acceptable, he will take it to the State Legislature for implementation. “This public-private issue isn’t just a problem in Portland,” he said. “It’s a problem statewide,” Earlier this month legislative leaders sent a letter to PDC commissioners en- couraging them “to find a resolution re- garding the application of prevailing wage rates to public/private projects.” The PDC wage policy action is the initial result of a Construction Wage Study, which the Board began last Au- gust. The wage study included four public work sessions and nearly 20 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS hours of panel discussions, public tes- timony and input from PDC. Many of the issues raised concerned the impacts and benefits of prevailing wage rates as it pertains to job training; construction employment and con- tracting opportunities; cost and quality of construction; and workforce diver- sity. Participation included leaders of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries , union and nonunion organizations and members, developers, contractors, minority-and women- owned business and construction workers, as well as other jurisdictions. PDC staff will return on Jan. 10 or earlier with more details on the poten- tial specifics for a wage policy. The Board also accepted public testimony on the resolution at its meeting Dec. 13 (held after this issue went to press). PAGE 5
