The La Crosse Master Builders Association spoke up when the City created an ordinance that would “regulate and establish standard and requisites of labor employed in all public works in the City of La Crosse.”
The Builders Association at the time was struggling with union versus open shop policies in the industry. They believed this ordinance would force them to pay wages sought by the labor union and increase costs for the taxpayer.
The laborers union replied denying the claims of jobs paying closed shop wages stating the ordinance states labor should be paid at the same rate as if the laborer was working directly for the city – aka prevailing wage. They stated this would ensure the highest quality of workmanship gets performed for the city.
