Ohio Republicans Introduce 'Right To Work,' Anti-Prevailing Wage Laws

Last week, Republicans at the Ohio Statehouse introduced three anti-union bills, two of them directly attacking our Building and Construction Trades members.

Representative Levi Dean sponsored House Bill 510, which would make an anti-union Right to Work state.  Rep. Dean sponsored Right to Work in 2024 as well and his bill has yet to garner any co-sponsors.

Representatives Thad Claggett and Heidi Workman are sponsoring House Bill 512, an attack on Project Labor Agreements (PLA) in Ohio.  This bill would prohibit the state from providing funds to a municipality that enters a (PLA) with contractors. PLAs, or sometimes known as Community Benefit Agreements, ensure the work being done pays a living wage with benefits, uses highly-skilled and trained labor and that the workers are employees paying taxes in Ohio.

Lastly, Representatives Beth Lear and Meredith Craig have introduced House Bill 513, an Anti- Prevailing Wage bill. While this bill doesn't ban Prevailing Wage, it will allow localities to choose to pay prevailing wage. This would drive down wages and allow sub-par contractors to skirt labor laws making local construction projects less safe.

"While we believe a clear majority of elected leaders in the Statehouse know these anti-worker, anti-union bills are bad for Ohio, the State Federation is ready to stand up defend good, union jobs," said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga.