Executive Secretary and Business Manager for the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council Dave Wondolowski joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the Cleveland Port Authority’s decision to overturn Prevailing Wage requirements and the impact that will have on workers in the community. Wondolowski also talked about Acting U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Julie Su’s recent visit to Cleveland to announce the final rule to President Joe Biden’s Executive Order requiring Project Labor Agreements.
In 2018, the Cleveland Building Trades helped develop a three-pronged plan to ensure workers were provided Prevailing Wage on projects financed by the port authority, which helped increase revenue at the Cleveland Port Authority. Wondolowski talked about the false claims provided by Cleveland Port Authority President Will Friedman during several meetings in 2023 that led to December’s reversal of the 2018 requirements on Prevailing Wage for port authority projects. Now, employers will likely choose low-road contractors and unskilled labor to cut costs when there are no Prevailing Wage requirements on projects. A lack of requirements also guarantees that women and minorities earn far less than they should on these projects, he said.
Wondolowski also discussed Acting Labor Secretary Su’s announcement of the final PLA rule in Cleveland last month. Su and the Department of Labor chose Cleveland because of Wondolowski’s history of successfully utilizing PLAs to benefit workers in Northeast Ohio. One of these projects includes an active PLA at the Anthony J. Celebreeze Federal Building, where the announcement was made. Wondolowski discussed how this announcement will pave the way for several million dollars worth of work to come to Northeast Ohio by the end of 2024.
The Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council is made up of 29 affiliated unions and over 10,000 highly skilled craft workers. Established in 1913, The Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council continues to provide skilled union craftsmanship throughout Northeast Ohio. Through his work, Wondolowski provides coordination and support to the work done by affiliated local unions in their local communities.
To hear more from Wondolowski and the work coming to Northeast Ohio, check out the show above.