Assemblymen Joseph Egan, Jeff Van Drew and Paul Moriarty

EGAN/VAN DREW/MORIARTY PREVAILING WAGE LEGISLATION RELEASED BY COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Labor committee today released legislation Assemblymen Joseph Egan, Jeff Van Drew and Paul Moriarty sponsored to require prevailing wages to be paid for work on state-owned properties. EGAN/VAN DREW/MORIARTY PREVAILING WAGE LEGISLATION RELEASED BY COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Labor committee today released legislation Assemblymen Joseph Egan, Jeff Van Drew and Paul Moriarty sponsored to require prevailing wages to be paid for work on state-owned properties.

"We need to do all that we can to help working families," said Egan (D-Middlesex). "The financial protections that unions have earned for hard-working men and women must not be eroded."

The bill (A-3890) strengthens New Jersey's already tough "Prevailing Wage Act," signed into law in early 2004. The legislation would authorize terminations of contractor's or subcontractor's work for failure to pay prevailing wages in capital projects involving leased properties.

"Making sure contractors and subcontractors are paying a prevailing wage is only fair," said Van Drew (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). "This measure closes a loophole that would have allowed contractors or subcontractors to circumvent the state's prevailing wage protections."

Current law requires prevailing wages to be paid on contracts for public projects. The Egan/Van Drew/Moriarty measure clarifies the definition of public works and stipulates that a prevailing wage must be paid for work completed on a public building -- even if the project is not paid for with public funds.

"As our state continues to grow, we need to strive to do business with contractors who pay a fair wage," said Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden). "Business must be conducted above board, with livable benefits guaranteed for all families."

The bill was released 4 to 2. It now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

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FOR RELEASE:
January 22, 2007

CONTACT:
Assemblyman Egan
(732) 249-4550
Assemblyman Van Drew
(609) 465-0700
Assemblyman Moriarty
(856) 232-6700
John Duthie
(609) 292-7065