Shelby Area Dems learn about prevailing wages

SHELBY – Ohio’s prevailing wage law was the topic under discussion at the March meeting of the Shelby Area Democratic Club. Matt Mcclester, field representative for Bricklayers Local 40, and Carl Neutzling, business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 688, spoke to the club’s membership about this important law.

Ohio’s prevailing wage law has been on the books since 1931. It requires public authorities to pay workers on most of their construction projects the local prevailing wage. The speakers cited a number of benefits. Most importantly the prevailing wage law promotes the use of skilled, local craftsmen and, therefore, results in the improved quality of the construction. They pointed out that the Shelby solar power field was constructed as a prevailing wage project with local workers from Richland and the surrounding counties.

“Skilled labor isn’t cheap, and cheap labor isn’t skilled,” they concluded.

During the business meeting, members adopted a 2021 budget for the club, learned that the change in statutory agent has been recorded by the Ohio secretary of state, and okayed a fundraiser-by-mail. They heard reports from county treasurer Bart Hamilton, local AFLCIO president Norm Shoemaker, elections director Paulette Hankins, Democratic Women’s Caucus president Susan Gentille, and Mansfield City Council candidate Sammie Dunn.

The Shelby Area Democratic Club will next meet on Thursday, April 15. For the time being, the organization will continue to meet via Zoom.