Econ of Black Comm Dev. Davis-Bacon Act Debate Essays - Free Essays

Econ of Black Comm Dev. Davis-Bacon Act Debate Essays - Free Essays 1.Defender ~ Olivia Lewis 2.Detractor ~ Tawndy 3.Moderator/Scribe ~Taylor Walker September 3, 2015 Econ of Black Community Development 788 Davis-Bacon Act Debate For/DefenderAgainst/Detractor Group 1 Debate/ DiscussionI am in support of the Davis-Bacon Act, as workers in cities are facing unemployment as a result of the ability for manufacturers to simply lower wages and bring in new workers. Benefits all workers Fair, deserved pay, fair competition Force companies to hire unionized workers oProvides proper protection of workers Set wage oAllows laborers to afford expenditures in the city Improve work morale Creates equity in the work placeI am in opposition of the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors are performing on federally funded or assisted contracts in excess of $2000 for construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings, or public works. Racist origins oAuthor was racist Lest immigration upset nations racial status quo oKeeps blacks from competition w/ ununionized white workers oAct passed with the intention of preventing non-unionized and immigrant laborers from competing with unionized white workers for scarce jobs during the Great Depression Currently, has devastating impact Nonunionized black workers are underrepresented in highly unionized skilled trades and over represented in pool of unskilled workers Restricts economic opportunities of low-income individuals oMinority contracting firms are often small, non-unionized, & cant pay prevailing wage Requires contractors to pay unskilled laborers prevailing wage for any job performed oForces contractors to hire skilled tradesmen Selecting workers from pool dominated by whites Creates barrier for unskilled o/ low-skilled workers Low income blacks cannot reap the benefits of the well paid construction industry