How Cleveland Port Board voted on repeal of its Prevailing Wage provision

Cleveland Port

On Nov. 9, by a 5-2-1 vote, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority Board of Directors voted to repeal its Prevailing Wage provision.

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority is a public agency that provides financing solutions for economic development projects in Cuyahoga County and beyond. The Port Authority partners with economic developers, government entities and banks to provide funding options for projects in the private, non-profit and public sectors.

According to its website, since 1993, the agency has funded 150 projects, issued $4.5 billion in bonds and leveraged $6.1 billion in construction.

For roughly five years before the November vote, Prevailing Wage was required to be paid on all construction projects funded by the Port Authority.

Now, with the board’s anti-worker vote, which was supported by Port of Cleveland President and Chief Executive Officer William D. Friedman, the Port Authority has potentially set off a race to the bottom on all future construction projects it funds.

The vote could potentially cost affiliated members of the Cleveland Building Trades jobs, as work to construct projects funded by the Port could now go to out-of-state non-union workers since Prevailing Wage will not be enforced.

Port Board of Director members Dave Wondolowski, Executive Secretary/Business Manager of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, and Dan O’Malley voted to keep the Prevailing Wage requirement.

The following five members of the Port Authority’s Board of Directors voted to remove the Prevailing Wage requirement: J. Stefan Holmes, Darrell L. McNair, Margot Copeland, Teleangé Thomas and Andrew Jackson.

Board member Peggy Zone Fisher abstained.

The following board members were appointed by the Mayor of the City of Cleveland:

· J. Stefan Holmes, Chair
· Darrell L. McNair, Secretary/Fiscal Officer
· Margot Copeland
· Teleangé Thomas
· David J. Wondolowski, Vice Chair

The following board members were appointed by the Cuyahoga County Executive:
· Peggy Zone Fisher, Vice Chair
· Andrew Jackson
· Daniel O'Malley

If an affiliated members of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, their family or friends wish to reach out to Port Authority President and Chief Executive Officer William D. Friedman, the office of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb or Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne to voice their displeasure over the vote, The Labor Citizen compiled the following contact information:

· The office of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb can be reached at 216-664-2000 or mayorbibb@clevelandohio.gov.

· To contact the office of Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, call 216-443-7181. His office can also be contacted by filling out the online form on this webpage: cuyahogacounty.gov/executive/about-us.

· Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority President and Chief Executive Officer William D. Friedman can be reached via email at william.friedman@portofcleveland.com or by calling 216-377-1339.