Look For the Union Worker

From the BCCT.

Boondoggle to make sure that union members get the jobs, or responsible government regulation?

The idea has merit, but I question why any council member would spend their time on an issue like this when the borough is taking a second turn around in the swirling water of a financial toilet. Is this really a pertinent issue today?

If it's about being "responsible", does this mean that there's no responsible bidding process already in place? Or that the bidding contractor is not already held responsible when placing a bid? If so, that's a glaring hole in the borough process and that needs to be addressed.

Maybe it would be better to see five shovels in the ground bringing jobs back to Morrisville rather than one perfectly trained shovel working to government specification?

I know this: All things being equal, if I have the chance to hire a local contractor over a contractor from somewhere else, the local guy wins. I want to spend my money here at home.

Council to consider contractor ordinance
By DANNY ADLER

The Morrisville council will consider a law that supporters say is designed to ensure all public construction and maintenance contracts are awarded to responsible, qualified firms that meet a long list of requirements and participate in an apprenticeship program.

Similar responsible-contractor laws have been criticized for their apprenticeship requirements, with critics saying such a rule restricts contracts to union shops. Backers say that isn’t true.

One backer of the borough’s proposed responsible-contractor ordinance is Councilman David Rivella, a union journeyman electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 269.

Rivella, a member of the borough’s ordinance committee, said the proposal will add another layer of security when the council awards contracts worth $10,000 or more. He said the ordinance in no way is meant to promote union work, or IBEW work.

“It’s about being qualified,” Rivella said. “This ordinance is for all trades.

“I don’t know why, but some people like to say that apprenticeship means union,” he added. “People like to try to tie it to that. There’s not one word in the ordinance that says union.”

As of Wednesday, there were 10,890 union apprentices and 1,430 non-union apprentices in Pennsylvania’s construction industry, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Councilwoman Jane Burger, chairwoman of the ordinance committee, said the ordinance could hurt smaller businesses that don’t have apprenticeship programs and could negatively affect smaller local contractors.

She also called the proposal limited, saying, “This does not cover all of our bids.”

Several other municipalities in Lower Bucks County have similar laws.

A responsible-contractor law was criticized by some Lower Makefield residents when the township enacted its version.

Under Morrisville’s proposed ordinance, contractors would have to confirm that they hadn’t defaulted on any project or been prohibited from bidding on any federal, state or local government contracts in the last three years. In addition to having an apprenticeship program, they’d also have to be free of “willful violations” of federal or state safety laws.

One provision in the eight page ordinance says contractors must confirm that “all employees are United States citizens or properly documented legal aliens (who can legally work in the U.S.).” Another provision would require contractors to adhere to prevailing wage rates and fringe benefit requirements.

Once a bid is awarded, the borough would have 30 days to determine whether the contractor is qualified under the ordinance. The contractor’s responsibility certification, list of subcontractors and their responsibility certifications would be available for public review.

“This actually protects taxpayer dollars because you know who you’re dealing with upfront,” Rivella said. “Basically, if the contractor has not been debarred or defaulted on any projects or doesn’t have any serious law violations, they have nothing to worry about. This is designed to weed out the unscrupulous firms with bad track records.”

The draft ordinance likely will be discussed at the borough council’s 7:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting in borough hall, 35 Union St. The council could vote on the proposal at its regular 7:30 p.m. meeting March 16 in borough hall.