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IT HAS FINALLY HAPPENED!

On Thursday, January 17, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved new regulations amending Section 208 of the current apprenticeship law. These new regulations will require that apprentices be paid a percentage of the prevailing wage on PRIVATE as well as public work. The new rules will go into effect on FEBRUARY 16.

Under these new regulations, an apprentice in Los Angeles County will have to be paid $16.02 per hour on his first day of work; by the end of his apprenticeship he will have to be paid $32.05. In San Francisco County, the beginning wage will be $22.43 per hour, and at the end of an apprenticeship the hourly wage would be $44.85! Obviously your journeymen will not consent to making less than your apprentices, and their wages will have to rise sharply as well.

These dramatic wage increases will make many of us uncompetitive and will drive many of us out of business.

Section 208 affects ALL construction trades, not just electricians. It also sets a very dangerous precedent. Our economy cannot tolerate wage increases of 200%. As you know, market forces and competition for quality employees set certain market wage and benefit standards, which are well above minimum wage and so-called "living wage" rates.

We need your continuing help to fund the legal battle against Section 208. We also need you to speak to your colleagues who may not know about this dramatic development, and encourage them to support FLAC. Please give as generously as you can. The investment you make today in FLAC is an investment in the future of your business. Remember, we can and will fight against this new and unwise policy. We are preparing lawsuits and will soon be in court. PLEASE HELP US NOW!!!

 
     
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