Blumenthal Appealing Lower USDL Wage Rate

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said this week the US Department of Labor illegally lowered the prevailing wage rate for electricians in the New Haven County region.

Mr Blumenthal urged Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to immediately rescind the illegally established lower wage rate — $30.40 per hour and $15.08 in benefits — and reinstate the previous higher rate — $31.30 per hour and $15.78 in benefits — until the department conducts a full, open, and accurate new wage survey.

The lowered rate was established after the Labor Department received a letter from the executive director of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, which urged a diminished wage. The AG said the letter contained material inaccuracies — and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 90, was not provided the same opportunity to address these flaws.

Mr Blumenthal said the Labor Department failed to follow its own criteria in establishing the prevailing wage rate, including allowing an opportunity for both contractors and electricians to equally weigh in.

The federal government reviews its prevailing wage rate for electricians weekly, and adjusts it approximately every six months after considering market pay rates and input from contractor and industry groups. The wage rate determines what electricians are paid on projects funded wholly or partly by the state or federal government.

“This rate reduction is unlawful and unprecedented in at least the past 20 years,” Mr Blumenthal said. “The Labor Department should immediately reinstate the higher rate and redetermine a new one — this time relying on its normal, lawful, open, and accurate wage survey. This decision undermines the core principle of labor law — and undercuts the livelihood that workers in Connecticut are legally entitled to receive for the hours they work. My office will take appropriate action to ensure that this wage rate rollback is rescinded.”