PHOENIX — The City of Phoenix will continue to fight for a prevailing wage ordinance after it was overturned by Maricopa County Superior Court.
The Phoenix City Council passed the ordinance in January and it was set to take effect July 1, but the courts stepped in, saying it violated state law. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said the prevailing wage ordinance ensured that workers on city-funded construction projects worth more than $4 million received a fair wage.
after that A legal opinion was issued Regarding the ordinance, passed by Attorney General Chris Mays in June 2023, the city determined that the ordinance was within the city's authority, with the understanding that “the prevailing wage is a type of minimum wage.”
but The Arizona Mirror reported. Maricopa County Judge Brad Astrosky rejected that idea in a June 24 summary judgment, saying no political subdivision in Arizona can enact an ordinance requiring contractors or subcontractors to pay workers “at or above the prevailing wage rate.”
“We are disappointed by this decision and are evaluating our next steps,” Mayor Gallego said in a statement in response to the ruling. “The people building the future of our city deserve to be fairly compensated, and we will pursue all legal options to ensure that workers receive their fair share of wages.”
