95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Campaign to ban prevailing wage headed to court

A partisan split on a state election board has stalled a petition drive to outlaw prevailing wage rules in Michigan.

   A group of non-union builders wants to outlaw prevailing wage.

The petition drive takes aim at rules adopted by the state and many local governments. Those rules require contractors to pay union-scale wages on publicly funded projects.

   The elections panel deadlocked on whether to let the campaign move forward. Two Republicans voted yes. Two Democrats voting no.     

   Jeff Wiggins is with the petition campaign. He says this isn’t over.

   “We’re going to court.”

A judge could order the board to put the question to the Legislature. And, under Republican control, the Legislature would very likely approve it.