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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Wanda Seeney (573) 751-3247
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2009
Labor Dept. Protects Missouri Workers, Requires Replacement of Ineligible Public Project Employees from Out of State
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – In April, the Missouri Department of Labor took action to protect Missouri workers by enforcing a law that bars workers from certain other states from employment on Missouri public works projects during periods of high unemployment. After receiving complaints that a $600 million city utilities project in Springfield employed ineligible out-of-state workers, the Department required the contractors to replace approximately 150 workers with individuals who qualify under the law.
“The top priority of this administration is to get Missourians back to work and turn the economy around. When the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations learned that a crew from Oklahoma was illegally working on a public project in Springfield, we took immediate action to send those workers back to their own state and replace them with Missouri carpenters and tradesmen. We are not going to allow anyone to put Missouri contractors and workers at an economic disadvantage,” said Gov. Jay Nixon.
Twenty-two states including Illinois, Iowa and Oklahoma, have laws that restrict Missouri laborers from working on public works projects in those states during high unemployment. Accordingly, Missouri Law states that during such periods, public works projects may only employ Missourians or workers from nonrestrictive states. Missouri has been experiencing excessive unemployment since October of 2007. Missouri Law defines excessive unemployment as two consecutive months of 5 percent unemployment or more. As part of its enforcement of Missouri’s Prevailing Wage Laws, the Labor Department’s Division of Labor Standards investigates compliance with the excessive unemployment laws and can seek injunction to stop a project that is in violation of the law.
“With so many Missourians out of work, it is absolutely critical that we ensure our tax dollars are not going to help the economies of states that discriminate against Missourians. We will continue to protect Missouri’s workforce by enforcing the law,” said Larry Rebman, Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
If you suspect an employer or contractor has hired employees from a restrictive state, you may fill out a Prevailing Wage Complaint Form, or contact the Division of Labor Standards at 573-751-3403.
For more information about the laws surrounding excessive unemployment in Missouri, please visit the Internet site, http://www.dolir.mo.gov/LS/faq/faq_PublicWorksEmployment.asp.
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