SMACNA is supported by more than 3,500 construction firms specializing in industrial, commercial, residential, architectural and specialty sheet metal, and air conditioning construction in public and private markets throughout the United States. SMACNA members and allied quality-driven contractors understand that any major investment in public infrastructure should recognize the extreme importance and merit in prevailing wages as part of any quality based public procurement policy. From decades of experience, SMACNA member firms understand the merit in a public procurement policy that encourages employers to provide a skilled workforce quality wages, benefits, and training.
SMACNA contractor members have long been outspoken advocates for Davis-Bacon regulatory reforms. Its members appreciate that prevailing wage laws seek to prevent the federal government from undermining local economies and prevailing local employment and training practices by reflecting local conditions. SMACNA offers the Department of Labor support for its long overdue efforts to reflect the views of federal contractors featuring the most skilled workforce that bid and win federal contracts every day. SMACNA firms well understand the shortcomings of the Act since misguided and outdated reforms were made decades ago seemingly designed to limit the effectiveness of the Act and its clear and specific statutory intent. Many of these so-called reforms in the past undermined the intent of the Act and led to the frustration of those most supportive of paying prevailing wages and boosting registered apprenticeship.
SMACNA members appreciate DOL’s tireless efforts to reform the Davis-Bacon Act and offer to provide the Wage and Hour Division with our best counsel and input as they carefully reconsider the critical role prevailing wage standards play in expanding a well-trained, highly skilled, and productive construction workforce. ▪
