Labor commissioner asked to hike pay for LV fence erectors

A workers' group is trying to force state Labor Commissioner Terry Johnson to take action against a Las Vegas contractor, alleging it violated labor laws on prevailing wages.

In a Clark County District Court lawsuit, the Southern Nevada Foundation for Fair Contracting alleged Tiberti Fence Co. violated labor laws when it submitted a prevailing wage survey for the period July 1, 1998, through June 30, 1999.

Dianna Hegeduis, the labor commissioner's attorney, said the foundation believes the prevailing hourly wage rate reported by Tiberti of $18.20 on "fence erector classifications" for public works jobs is too low and is trying to force Johnson to conduct a hearing to reconsider the rate.

"The local 872 of the (Laborers International Union of North America) had filed a formal objection to the $18.20 rate saying it's too low. They said it should be $27.44 based on their collective bargaining agreement," she said. "But Johnson determined that the union wasn't able to produce evidence to substantiate a higher rate, so the prevailing wage remained at $18.20."

"The question now is whether Southern Nevada Foundation has standing to bring the lawsuit. They want the union's higher rate and so they accuse Tiberti of paying too low a rate. But we haven't received any wage claims from Tiberti's employees complaining they are unhappy with the prevailing rate," she said.

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