STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1195

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1081

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam President:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1081 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC WORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to strengthen the enforcement of the prevailing wage law by allowing a joint labor-management committee established pursuant to section 175a of the federal Labor Management Cooperation Act of 1978 (29 U.S.C. 175a), to initiate a civil action against employers who fail to pay the prevailing wage to its employees.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Carpenters Union and testimony in opposition from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations ("DLIR").  The Hawaii Carpenters Union testified that the joint labor-management committee would provide a voice for workers who have suffered unfair wages but are unwilling to pursue any civil action on their own due to fear and lack of resources.  The DLIR testified that the measure would provide unequal opportunities to both union and non-union parties and open the door for national labor-management committees to bring actions against all contractors in Hawaii.    

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1081, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair