 |
Federal Davis-Bacon Wage Survey
Are
Davis-Bacon wage rates off the mark? You have the opportunity to
help the Federal Government get the "right" information.
As
you may know, the last U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) survey in
1996 resulted in major residential rate increases. For example,
initially the rate for general laborer in all Oregon urban counties
went from $6.50 to nearly $29.00 per hour. Although some increases
were alleviated by HUD's action requesting DOL recognition of area
practices, many thought Davis-Bacon rates still exceeded the current
residential prevailing wages.
DOL
will be conducting a new survey. It is very important to have as
many contractors and interested parties participate in the new survey
as possible in order to provide sufficient information to produce
an accurate federal prevailing wage rate for all of Oregon.
Please take advantage of this new opportunity to ensure DOL receives
the data necessary to establish accurate prevailing wage schedules.
Here are the things you can do:
- Participate
In A Survey Workshop. U. S. Department of Labor staff will
be in Oregon April 13-21, 2004, conducting free workshops and
providing technical advice on how to participate in their wage
survey. DOL survey procedures can be complicated, so take advantage
of workshops and meetings on survey procedures.
- Contact
Contractors. Contact contractors who construct or rehab
non-Davis-Bacon residential housing and ask them to prepare
peak workweek wage data for themselves and each of their subcontractors
for construction projects underway at least one day between
August 1, 2003 and July 31, 2004. Survey mailings will begin
in September, 2004. The Survey cutoff date for data submission
will be four months later in January, 2005.
- Submit
Certified Payroll Peak Weeks. Rural county local agencies should
forward HUD Portland Office Labor Relations Specialist William
Toxvard copies of peak workweek certified payrolls on Davis-Bacon
covered residential projects underway at least one day between
August 1, 2003 and July 31, 2004. Note: This will entail locating
the single payroll that reports the most workers in each job
classification for each contractor on each Davis-Bacon project.
Send certified payrolls to:
HUD
Office of Labor Relations
400 SW Sixth Ave, Suite 700
Portland, OR 97204-1632
- Ask
Questions. Answers to frequently asked questions regarding Davis-Bacon wage surveys (www.dol.gov/esa/programs/dbra/faqs.htm).
Also feel free to contact:
DOL - Senior Wage Analyst George Marx, (415) 848-6610, or by email: marx@sfc.dol-esa.gov
HUD - Labor Relations Specialist Bill Toxvard, (503) 326-6379, William_Toxvard@hud.gov
|