CABL Forum - Re: Davis Beacon Act

http://www.gpo.gov/davisbacon/allstates.html

There is no standard pay scale for the entire country. Every state and county is a different prevailing (average) wage, generally it is a "minimum wage" and unless your a union contractor you can't pay your guys as apprentices. You must pay the wage + fringe as one and sometimes you can't even deduct benefits, but that depends on the area/state.

Generally you will get audited by the gov if you do rate work, also they have some crazy laws surrounding this act so you might want to speak with a labor lawyer or professional corp lawyer about tech stuff. Lastly, most cable guys are classified as low voltage electricians. When in doubt always go to the higher pay scale, you'll save yourself $10k in lawyers and fees if one of your employees files a unfair labor claim.

Also you can't have a driver doing linework and you can't classify linemen as drivers or groundhands. Honestly sometimes it is better to use union labor on rate work since you can pay a lot less for apes.

Example of the differences of the Philly area and Pittsburgh area wage determination and St Louis, MO:

* ELEC0126-002 05/31/2010

CHESTER, DELAWARE, MONTGOMERY, PHILADELPHIA, AND REMAINDER OF
BUCKS COUNTY

Rates Fringes

Line Construction:
Groundhand..................$ 27.70 17.54
Groundman...................$ 26.77 $7.50+26%
Lineman.....................$ 44.62 $7.50+26%
Truck Driver................$ 30.00 17.54
Truck driver................$ 29.01 $7.50+26%
Winch Truck Operator........$ 32.34 17.54
Winch truck operator........$ 31.24 $7.50+26%
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ELEC0126-005 01/01/2010

ALLEGHENY, ARMSTRONG, BEAVER, BEDFORD, BLAIR, CAMBRIA, CENTRE,
CLARION, CLEARFIELD, FAYETTE, FULTON, GREENE, HUNTINGDON,
INDIANA, JEFFERSON, SOMERSET, WASHINGTON AND WESTMORELAND

Rates Fringes

Line Construction:
Groundman...................$ 21.53 17.40
Lineman.....................$ 38.00 17.40
Truck Driver................$ 23.09 26%+5.55
Truck driver................$ 23.43 17.40
Winch Truck Operator........$ 24.96 26%+5.55
Winch truck operator........$ 25.33 17.40

ELEC0002-001 09/01/2008

ADAIR, AUDRAIN, BOONE, CALLAWAY, CAMDEN, CARTER, CHARITON,
CLARK, COLE, COOPER, CRAWFORD, DENT, FRANKLIN, GASCONADE,
HOWARD, HOWELL, IRON, JEFFERSON, KNOX, LEWIS, LINCON, LINN,
MACON, MARIES, MARION, MILLER, MONITEAU, MONROE, MONTGOMERY,
MORGAN, OREGON, OSAGE, PERRY, PHELPS, PIKE, PULASKI, PUTNAM,
RALLS, RANDOLPH, REYNOLDS, RIPLEY, ST. CHARLES, ST. FRANCOIS,
ST. LOUIS (City and County), STE. GENEVIEVE, SCHUYLER,
SCOTLAND, SHANNON, SHELBY, SULLIVAN, TEXAS, WARREN AND
WASHINGTON COUNTIES

Rates Fringes

Line Construction:
Groundman and Groundman-
Driver......................$ 22.48 43.25%+4.75
Groundman Equipment
Operator....................$ 29.08 43.25%+4.75
Groundman-Winch Driver......$ 23.59 43.25%+4.75
Lineman or Cable Splicer....$ 33.68 43.25%+4.75
----------------------------------------------------------------
ELEC0053-004 08/31/2010

Rates Fringes

Line Construction: (ANDREW,
ATCHINSON, BARRY, BARTON,
BUCHANAN, CALDWELL, CEDAR,
CHRISTIAN, CLINTON, DADE,
DALLAS, DAVIES,, DEKALB,
DOUGLAS, GENTRY, GREENE,
GRUNDY, HARRISON, HICKORY,
HOLT, JASPER, LACLEDE,
LAWRENCE, LIVINGSTON,
MCDONALD, MERCER, NEWTON,
NODAWAY, OZARK, POLK, ST.
CLAIR, STONE, TANEY, VERNON,
WEBSTER, WORTH AND WRIGHT
COUNTIES)
Groundman Powderman.........$ 25.88 34.5%+4.75
Groundman...................$ 23.98 34.5%+4.75
GroundmanPowderman..........$ 25.13 34%+4.75
Lineman Operator............$ 35.12 34.5%+4.75
Lineman.....................$ 37.10 34.5%+4.75
Line Construction; (BATES,
BENTON, CARROLL, CASS, CLAY,
HENRY, JACKSON, JOHNSON,
LAFAYETTE, PETTIS, PLATTE,
RAY AND SALINE COUNTIES)
Groundman Powderman.........$ 26.84 34.5%+4.75
Groundman...................$ 25.44 34.5%+4.75
Lineman Operator............$ 35.82 34.5%+4.75
Lineman.....................$ 38.40 34.5%+4.75

INSTALLATION

CONSTRUCTION / TECH

OFFICE / OTHER

Re: Davis Beacon Act