[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 147 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


LETTER FROM VINCENT PISCITELLO ON LIVING WAGES FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION 
                                WORKERS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 15, 1998

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the issue of prevailing wages for workers 
on government construction projects has been a major topic of debate 
during the 105th Congress. In his letter to members of the Cleveland 
City Council, Mr. Vincent Piscitello, President of VIP Restoration 
Inc., presents an articulate and compelling argument for the importance 
of paying employees a living wage when they renovate schools in the 
Cleveland area. I commend Mr. Piscitello for his clear thinking and 
commitment to working families, and offer his letter to be included in 
the Congressional Record.

                                        VIP Restoration, Inc.,

                                   Cleveland, OH, October 6, 1998.
     Re the elimination of prevailing wage requirements for work 
       performed at the Cleveland City Schools.

     City of Cleveland Council Members,
     Council Chambers,
     Cleveland, OH.
       Dear Councilperson: You may or may not be aware that the 
     Cleveland City Schools has dropped the prevailing wage 
     requirement for construction projects on city schools and 
     facilities. The prevailing wage guidelines require 
     contractors to pay their employees a decent living wage. The 
     elimination of this requirement is result of the passage of 
     State Senate Bill 102.
       Ostensibly, using underpaid workers reduces construction 
     costs and therefore the tax burden on the citizens. While 
     many good arguments can be made regarding the fallacy of the 
     proposition that low paid, unskilled workers could complete 
     projects on time, with high quality, and within budget, I 
     believe that the more immediate and important issue is the 
     elimination of good paying jobs with benefits.
       Over the years unions (supported by prevailing wage 
     requirements) have provided good paying jobs. They have 
     enabled many to climb the ladder into middle class and 
     prosper. Unions provide training, a living wage, and 
     benefits. Union members have gone on to own their own 
     business, send their kids to college, and generally benefit 
     society by being able to provide for their families.
       A non-union job paying $9 dollars an hour without benefits 
     is fine for a single young person with no dependents. But how 
     do you expect a person (or two) who has worked a full day and 
     takes home $64 after taxes to support their family? Medical 
     emergency? Just don't have them. Saving for retirement? Not 
     possible. By increasing dependency upon governmental 
     entitlement programs this legislation actually increases 
     overall costs and the burden on the taxpayer.
       Currently, many unions are looking for young energetic men 
     and women to become apprentices. Is there an opportunity for 
     underemployed inner city youths to learn a trade, have a 
     decent paying job, and build a solid fiscal foundation for 
     themselves and their families? I think so. But eliminate the 
     prevailing wage requirements and you eliminate opportunity.
       Are the lawmakers who passed this legislation and 
     administrators who choose to implement it in on a conspiracy 
     to hold down the working person? I don't really think they 
     are but I do believe they are short sighted and may have a 
     bad case of ``I got mine''.
       State Senate Bill 102 does not require a school district to 
     hire contractors who employ non-union personnel or pay low 
     wages, a school system can choose to require prevailing wage. 
     Other school districts have agreed to continue to use 
     prevailing wage guidelines. The Construction Employers 
     Association is working with many local school districts to 
     inform them of their rights, the benefits of keeping 
     prevailing wages, and the opportunities available to high 
     school graduates looking to enter the trades.
       It is important that your constituents have decent paying 
     jobs allowing them the opportunity to provide for their 
     families. We need your help to inform the powers that be that 
     prevailing wage requirements need to be maintained when 
     performing work at the Cleveland City Schools.
       Please contact John Porada of the CEA at (216) 398-9860 or 
     me at my offices with any questions.
           Sincerely,
                                               Vincent Piscitello,
                                                        President.

     

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