Prevailing Wage Construction Jobs Remain Focal Point

Statement of Dennis L. Martire, LIUNA Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager on amendment to HB 732 that incorporates the petrochemical tax credit from HB 1100.

Reston, Va. (July 15, 2020) - In response to the passage of HB 732, which establishes the Local Resource Manufacturing Tax Credit, in the Pennsylvania House and Senate this week and its support from Governor Wolf, Dennis L. Martire made the following statement:

This is a momentous occasion for working families throughout Pennsylvania. In the middle of a pandemic, bipartisan compromise prevailed to bring thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs to the area as well as millions in economic investment at no upfront cost to the state.

Even as the tax credit underwent changes from its start as HB 1100, the overwhelming support for good jobs from labor, business, and legislators remained constant. Each manufacturing facility must first make a multiyear capital investment that includes the creation of at least 800 prevailing wage construction and permanent manufacturing jobs that are first offered to skilled, local residents.

The bipartisan compromise brought business and labor together to establish a strong foundation for these new manufacturing plants. In further cooperation between business and labor, the first company set to benefit from this tax credit has agreed to negotiate a project labor agreement with LIUNA and appropriate local building trades unions.

I commend the lawmakers and staff, under the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, and Governor Wolf, who worked tirelessly with business and labor advocates in this effort. Together, we have set a historic precedent in terms of both bipartisan achievement and policy. The legislation creates critical economic opportunities for many areas of the state while offering strong worker protections. For the first time in history, this legislation ensures that construction workers will earn prevailing wages and benefits for construction work in any year a facility receives tax credits.

The benefits of the tax credit start now by luring economic investment and jobs to Pennsylvania, years before any tax credits may be paid. I thank all who supported this measure and who have demonstrated support for Pennsylvania’s working families.

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The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Mid-Atlantic Region represents more than 40,000 working men and women predominantly in the construction industry in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, Virginia and North Carolina