By Avéon Laine
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced Monday plans to introduce prevailing wage and local hiring legislation to support the county’s workforce.
Olszewski said the legislation would help ensure that workers hired for county-funded capital improvement projects receive competitive and fair wages.
If approved by the County Council, Baltimore County would join the state of Maryland, Baltimore City, and Charles, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties with a prevailing wage law.
“The men and women who build our roads, our schools and all the public infrastructure supporting our quality of life deserve the ability to earn a fair, living wage,” Olszewski said in a statement.
According to the Maryland Department of Labor, the Maryland Prevailing Wage Law applies to certain contracts for public work projects and requires that contractors and subcontractors pay the employees working on those projects a prevailing wage rate that is established by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry.
The rate is determined through an annual survey of contractors that identifies the typical hourly rate paid to construction workers. The annual wage determination surveys are conducted each fall.
Sean Naron, the press secretary for the Baltimore County government, said the new legislation’s wage adjustments would be a show of respect for the quality work county employees complete.
“This new legislation would help construction workers hired for county-funded capital improvement projects earn a fair, living wage,” Naron told The Baltimore Watchdog. “It also shows respect for their effort and quality of work they provide.
Prevailing wages would be required for all county-funded capital projects valued at $300,000 and above, which is $200,000 lower than the required value of projects in Charles and Montgomery counties.
The legislation would also require that at least 51 percent of all new jobs required to complete these projects are filled by Baltimore County residents. The employee data will then be reported to the Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development.
In Baltimore County, the current unemployment rate sits at about 7 percent as of late August, which totals about 32,221 individuals being unemployed.
“At a time when so many industries have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the bill’s local hiring provision would help ensure increased employment opportunities for local residents for major county-funded construction projects,” Naron said.
Ensuring increased employment opportunities for local residents remains critical as the county continues its economic recovery amid the pandemic, Naron said.
According to a March 2020 analysis by Pinnacle Economics, a prevailing wage policy could result in increased hiring of Baltimore County residents, which could generate millions in economic impacts within the local economy.
In addition, general prevailing wage laws have been tied to significant benefits in relation to workers. According to the Economic Policy Institute, some benefits include social benefits from higher wages and better workplace safety, elevating worker skills in the construction industry and increase government revenues.
Other benefits include increasing the likelihood that workers have health insurance coverage and reducing the likelihood that workers will earn an income below the poverty level.
“This legislation creates a level playing field for workers, improves workplace safety and enhances project quality—all while ensuring we put Baltimore County’s residents to work as we continue the road to economic recovery,” Olszewski said.
“The county will be working closely with stakeholders, including our brothers and sisters in labor, to ensure that workers are protected and prioritized,” Naron added.
The bill was officially introduced during Monday night’s Baltimore County Council meeting. If passed, the bill would be effective July 2021 to allow the county the opportunity to build the infrastructure and provide the education necessary for effective implementation, officials said.