IBEW California and CSAEW are in strong opposition to AB 130 - the proposed budget trailer bill that threatens prevailing wages for construction workers.

AB 130 - the Housing Trailer Bill Would set the minimum wage in 44 counties for construction workers below the $20/hr Fast Food Minimum Wage!!!!!

Step 1: Look up your elected officials: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/.

Step 2: Call them today! (see below for a list of their phone numbers)

SAMPLE SCRIPT:

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I'm a member of IBEW Local [#]. I'm calling to urge Assembly Member / Senator [NAME] to vote NO on the proposed budget trailer bill - AB 130.

This bill undermines prevailing wage protections by creating a substandard wage system that threatens the livelihoods of skilled construction workers. It will lead to lower wages and diminish the quality of work in our communities.

Please vote NO on this harmful proposal.

[Be prepared to give your address or email if asked.]

After your call, please LOG YOUR ACTION to the right and sign up for updates!

BACKGROUND: This budget trailer bill poses a significant threat to prevailing wage law and the dignity of construction workers in California. It is essential we stand together to protect our rights and ensure fair wages for all workers.

| Cottie Petrie-Norris        | (916) 319-2073       |

| Jessica Caloza              | (916) 319-2052       |

| Joaquin Arambula             | (916) 319-2031       |

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The proposed budget trailer bill is a direct assault on prevailing wages and threatens the livelihoods of IBEW members.

This bill undermines nearly a century of prevailing wage law by introducing an artificial minimum wage that diminishes skilled labor standards. It seeks to establish a second-class wage structure that devalues the training and expertise of union electricians, effectively initiating a race to the bottom for wages in the construction industry.

The proposed wage scale, setting minimums as low as $20 per hour without accounting for healthcare, forces skilled workers into substandard, non-livable wages. This unjustly penalizes those who adhere to collective bargaining agreements and invest in rigorous apprenticeship programs. By excluding union workers and contractors, the bill favors cheap labor over quality work, disregarding the contributions of high-road contractors who provide career pathways and uphold safety standards.

Furthermore, the enforcement mechanisms suggested in the bill are vague and impractical, creating confusion and leaving workers without real recourse for wage disputes. This unenforceability only deepens the existing issues in the construction industry and fails to address the real barriers to housing development in California.

California already has effective housing streamlining laws that respect labor protections. This bill is unnecessary and counterproductive, as it attempts to solve a problem that does not exist by attacking the wages of construction workers.

We strongly urge you to reject this harmful proposal, which threatens the integrity of prevailing wage law and the well-being of construction workers in California.

PROTECT PREVAILING WAGES AND SUPPORT IBEW MEMBERS.