Prevailing Wages for the DDC Tech

[softtail]

How many of us DDC Techs receive the "prevailing wage" rate as determined by State and Federal law on projects covered by State and Local prevailing wage laws, or on Federal Davis/Bacon jobs.

Typically, the prevailing wage rate is the local union wage and benefit rate together. Anywhere from $40.00 to $65.00 per hour straight time across the country, depending what State the project is in.

Many non-union DDC techs are working for much less than "prevailing wage" on Federal, State, County, City, school, college, government facilities, and other projects using public monies. I'm not suggesting that all DDC techs be in the union, but it seems that many, if not all, DDC companies are not complying to the prevailing wage laws by paying less than prevailing wages to DDC techs on prevailing wage jobs.

Currently, JCI is being investigated and audited by the State and Federal authorities concerning abuses of the prevailing wage laws on current and past projects. If JCI is proven to have abused the law, current and former techs will be reimbursed for the monies they were shorted.

If you have or are currently working a prevailing wage job and haven't received the "prevailing wage", you may want to contact the local/state/federal authority governing the law. It's rightfully our money by the law, why should a electrician, pipefitter, carpenter, etc. make more per hour on these jobs.

[controlgeek]

Many times the prevailing wage tables published do not have a category called 'DDC TECH' and companies are left to choose something such as air balance tech or electronics tech etc.

BTW JCI has an entire building full of lawyers in Chicago so good luck with that.

[softtail]

I'm just curious if DDC techs receive prevailing wages on jobs where the prevailing wage laws are in effect. It seems a DDC tech deserves at least the same wage or maybe even a little more than any other tradesman on such a job.

I'm not employed by JCI, but I'm pretty sure the State and Federal authorities may have more lawyers than JCI. If JCI has a building full of laywers, they're probably well within compliance of the law, then again, maybe they need all of those lawyers because they are way out of bounds.

[orion242]

>I'm just curious if DDC techs receive prevailing wages

Not us, it would be a pay cut!

[softtail]

I agree, not us. You, myself, and a typical seasoned DDC tech w/ over 10 years experience make more than prevailing wage.

What about all of the other DDC control guys? On a typical job or in a typical shop, it seems to me that maybe one tech in five makes prevailing wage or more, and the rest make less than a electrician or pipefitter.

It seems the majority of the DDC techs make less than prevailing wage. It doesn't seem fair to pay less than the State or Feds require by law on these jobs.

I just feel sorry for the guy making less than he should by law, knowing what its like trying to raise a family and pay the bills.

I guess I shouldn't worry about it because I'm getting my fair share. If the other techs received their fair share, it might affect my "cushy" well paid job.

[alerguy]

I have been working for a large controls contractor for more than 3 years now and have worked at many school districts and goverment facilities and have yet to get prevailing wages. It doesn't seem fair that our installers get prevailing wage but when I program and commission these projects I do not. Our company says "You already make the prevailing wage" or "There is no Programming/Commissioning trade clasification" or "Since you work in the service department..." or "The salesman did not price the project for prevailing" - The same reasons a past mechanical contractor gave me. I can't complain about the wage I do make but when a installer is making as much as 30% more for pulling wire I get a little discouraged. Should I make trouble?? Just want to be treated fairly.

[trane]

There is no reason to be paid less than prevailing wage on these jobs unless your getting screwed. If you start something the downside to it is it will piss the owner off even if your right.

[tlp261]

The company position would cdertainly be that the work you do is not covered by any of the listed trade categories, so none of the scales apply. This is especially true if you are salaried not hourly.

Should a programmer/engineer in the office also get prevailing wage? They aren't covered either as far as I've ever seen.

[softtail]

Of course the company position would be to pay you less, but what is the government's position, that's the position that counts and that's why JCI is being investigated and audited at this time concerning prevailing wage law abuses.

The prevailing wage laws concern only on-site work and does not cover the programmer, engineer, or any one off-site, but it does apply to any one on-site performing work, whether you're salaried and hourly.

Typically, the governing agency concerning prevailing wage will investigate the compliant without using your name, or you could file the compliant and don't use your name. They understand your position and have handled this type of compliant many times before. This is why they are there and it justifies their jobs, they want to help.

[trane]

On every prevailing wage job I have done certified payroll was required which shows hours worked and what you do.

[beertech]

I've seen that "DDC only" guys make less on average than regular HVAC techs/pipefitters

[cmakowk]

Currently, JCI is being investigated and audited by the State and Federal authorities concerning abuses of the prevailing wage laws on current and past projects. If JCI is proven to have abused the law, current and former techs will be reimbursed for the monies they were shorted.


I do I find out more about this?

[softtail]

If you have or are currently working a prevailing wage job and haven't received the "prevailing wage", you may want to contact the local/state/federal authority governing the law. It's rightfully your money by the law, why should a electrician, pipefitter, HVAC mechanic, etc. make more per hour on these jobs.

The prevailing wage laws establish the minimium pay required on these jobs for all trades doing work on-site.
If you're not receiving the proper pay, it seems very foolish not to contact the government entity governing the prevailing wage laws. It's rightfully YOUR MONEY by the law.

[RoBoTeq]

On every prevailing wage job I have done certified payroll was required which shows hours worked and what you do.

It was this way twenty five years ago when I was in business. I did a lot of prevailing wage jobs. The local union tried to rally my workers against me on a low end prevailing wage job by telling them that since they were being paid their regular wages that I was not in compliance with the prevailing wage laws. My employees stopped whining real quick when I showed them how much less the prevailing wages were compared to what I was paying them.

[trane]

I have done a few jobs that use what I think was HUD determined wages but called prevailing wage. Sheet metal workers had to be paid less than $6 an hour. There were actual auditors on the job site one day asking the workers their wages. Part of this may be due to the fact that all the roofers and siding crews were Mexicans and might not have been making the $6.

[cleancondenser]

What is the prevailing wage for Union DDC techs down in New York City

I was told they are members of the the electricians union

Thank You

[softtail]

The prevailing wage for a New York City DDC Tech is about $32.00 per hour straight time, plus $20.00 per hour in benefits.

[incontrol]

Let's not forget that all this "prevailing wage" bull carp is some fat cat union bosses way of passing legislation so they could jack up bids out of sight and eliminate non-union competition. This has cost the taxpayers BILLIONS of $.

[trane]

Let's not forget that all this "prevailing wage" bull carp is some fat cat union bosses way of passing legislation so they could jack up bids out of sight and eliminate non-union competition. This has cost the taxpayers BILLIONS of $.

I will agree with costing the tax payers but what would eliminate non union companies from bidding? I don't see the relationship with higher bids having anything to do with union or not.