Rebuild New Orleans and Pay Workers a Fair Wage

On Sept. 8, just one week after Hurricane Katrina, President George W. Bush issued an executive order to suspend fair wages for construction workers who will rebuild the Gulf Coast. Those protections are supposed to ensure workers will be paid a "prevailing wage." Prevailing wages for construction specialties in Louisianna, Mississippi and Alabama average about $9.50 an hour—less than $20,000 a year for full-time work.

Meanwhile, tax cuts for millionaires set to take effect Jan. 1 will cost $70 billion.

Please sign our petition urging President Bush and Congress to restore wage protections for construction workers in the Gulf Coast.

By participating in this campaign you become a member of Working America, a powerful new voice for working people. As a member, you will receive updates and information about how you can make a difference for working families.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Katrina Workers Deserve Fair Wages

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

The men and women who return to the Gulf Coast to rebuild their communities and their lives should be paid a standard local wage. We the undersigned urge President George W. Bush and Congress to restore Davis-Bacon wage protections the president suspended.

Signed by:

Campaign Launched:
September 19, 2005

Background Information

At a time when Hurricane Katrina exposed the gaping hole of economic inequality and the shortcomings of our nation's infrastructure, it is unbelievable and outrageous that the White House would lift the time-tested standard for ensuring quality work and decent living standards for taxpayer-financed reconstruction.

Employers are all too eager to exploit workers. This is no time to make that easier. What a double tragedy it would be to allow the destruction of Hurricane Katrina to depress living standards even further.

Taking advantage of a national tragedy to get rid of a protection for workers the corporate backers of the White House have long wanted to remove is nothing less than profiteering.

Congress must reverse this short-sighted action.