The bad and ugly of WV Labor Unions.

The state spends more than $1 billion a year on construction projects subject to prevailing wage law, Acker said.

"If the prevailing wage were accurately calculated, for the same $1 billion you would hire 2,000 more workers at an average salary of $60,000, build four new schools and pave 25 miles of road - all for the same price we're paying now," he said. "Every single year. That's the difference."

The state calculates the prevailing wage by sending out 100 surveys to union groups and 4,000 surveys to independent contractors. Organized labor returns all of its surveys, he said, but independent contractors receive a different, more cumbersome survey, and fewer than 1 percent are returned.

According to a report by the conservative Public Policy Foundation of West Virginia, the prevailing wage is now 74 percent higher than average wages in 12 occupations.

For example, roofers average $10.22 an hour in this state, according to the report. But the prevailing wage is $24.68.

"This report estimates that at least 1,500 West Virginians are without work because of the inaccurate method for calculating prevailing wages," the report said.
http://www.dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorials/200902100475