The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether local governments can order construction companies to pay union wages on public projects.
The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta reports.
More than two dozen Michigan counties, cities, and townships have prevailing wage rules.
Randy Hannan with the city of Lansing says local governments have an interest in ensuring workers on local projects are paid a fair wage.
“Our prevailing wage ordinance has helped share the benefits of economic development with working families across our community,” he says. “We think, as a matter of public policy, that’s a good thing.”
The non-unionized construction companies say prevailing wage laws drive up the costs of taxpayer-funded projects. The state Supreme Court will hear the case next year.