Teamster-Supported Prevailing Wage Bill Passes
Illinois House

Joint Council 25 Fights for Equal Rights for Aggregate Haulers

A new prevailing wage law is within sight for drivers of aggregate materials as legislation championed by Teamsters Joint Council 25 passed out of the Illinois House this month.

Teamsters Joint Council 65 and the Illinois AFL-CIO partnered with Joint Council 25 in support of House Bill 6112, which establishes prevailing wage standards for any worker transporting aggregate or excavated materials statewide. Contractors and subcontractors would be forced to pay proper rates to drivers hauling concrete, gravel, asphalt and related materials under the new law.

“Fly-by-night owner/operators will no longer be able to perform Teamster work by outbidding hardworking union contractors,” said Terrence J. Hancock, Joint Council 25 Vice President. “This legislation is an important step in the fight to ensure skilled drivers are paid a good wage for their work.”

More than 25 state representatives joined labor in sponsoring the bill, which passed the Illinois House by a vote of 71-43-00. In addition to guaranteeing fair rates for drivers, the legislation closes many loopholes in the prevailing wage law. Currently contractors circumvent the Prevailing Wage Act by working on public projects from temporary material plants or using the same materials for multiple projects concurrently. HB6112 will eliminate such practices and level the playing field for union workers.

The bill, which received additional support from the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce, Black Contractors United and the Suburban Black Contractors Association, is currently awaiting committee assignment in the Illinois Senate.

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and Indiana.

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