Columbus Councilman Rob Dorans Advocates for Workers’ Rights

Rob Dorans, Columbus City Council President Pro Tem and Affiliated Construction Trades (ACT) Ohio Chief Legal Counsel, discussed his efforts to expand Prevailing Wage laws, combat wage theft and forgive medical debt for low-income residents. Dorans shared insights on educating politicians about the building trades business model and the economic benefits of good wages and benefits.

Dorans created legislation to expand Prevailing Wage laws in Columbus to cover projects receiving public incentives. If passed and signed into law, the proposed ordinance would require certain projects receiving $500,000 or more in public funds to pay Prevailing Wages, ensuring fair compensation for workers on taxpayer-funded projects. He said this bill aims to close loopholes in existing laws and protect workers' rights, particularly in cases where public funds support private development.

Columbus passed one of the nation's strongest municipal wage theft laws under Dorans’ leadership. The law prohibits companies with wage violation histories from doing business with the city or working on city-incentivized projects for three years. Dorans said this approach creates a strong disincentive for wage theft and protects workers from exploitation. He emphasized the importance of clear enforcement mechanisms and implementation details to ensure the law's effectiveness.

Dorans played a key role in coordinating efforts with local hospital systems to forgive $335 million in medical debt for low-income residents. This initiative, which affected over 300,000 people, required months of negotiations and system redesigns. He described it as one of the most impactful accomplishments of his career, demonstrating his commitment to addressing broader economic issues affecting working families.

Listen to the full episode to hear more about Dorans’ efforts to protect workers' rights and promote economic justice.