By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Associated Builders and Contractors have raised concerns about a measure to require private contractors working in refineries or ethanol processing plants to pay prevailing wage would destroy the group’s Community Builders apprenticeship program.

Senate Bill 1407 would require certain safety provisions for work done at refineries or ethanol production plants. But it would also require private contractors to pay prevailing wage rates. It passed the Senate in 2019 and is up for final passage in the Illinois House.

Last year, supporters of the legislation told lawmakers in committee that the measure is about ensuring safety at refineries, and prevailing wage jobs are the safest jobs.

Alicia Martin, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors, said the measure would hurt the organization’s apprenticeship programs through the Community Builders program.

“We know that the pipe fitters in Will County alone I think the prevailing wage rate is somewhere around $81 an hour, that’s the base wage with the fringes, so if you’re going to hire from a program where they’re getting entry-level skills but a pathway to the industry, you just cannot pay that wage rate,” Martin said.

Michael Wesa with MKD Electric out of Elgin works with the Community Builder Program. He said they train a lot of people the unions would reject, and Senate Bill 1407 would put an end to their apprenticeship program.

“It disincentivizes contractors that use entry-level workers and therefore it kills what we’re doing from the Community Builders standpoint,” Wesa said.

Adonis Elam from Riverdale, has taught three cohorts of young apprenticeships from underserved areas and noticed the benefits.

“And I’ve actually seen some with behavioral issues that actually changed and became carpenters,” Elam said. “I think taking that away from them would be devastating.”

Vernon Ward from the south side of Chicago said he learned life-changing skills with Community Builders, and it’s a much-needed lifeline for his community.

“It’s something that will change a lot of our lives, but then if this bill passes then all our training, and our education and this time we spent looks like it will be for nothing, which will devastate and will hurt,” he said.

ABC Illinois said its Community Builders program is free to students and 98 percent of graduates were minorities who got jobs immediately upon graduation.

Wesa said he doesn’t have problems with the safety provisions in the bill, just the prevailing wage issue. He said he was also worried about what he called “big labor” interests pushing for the bill.

“You know the governor talked a lot in the State of the State about ethics reform, we have groups drafting this bill that are now trying to amend their own bill to exclude the requirements from them,” Wesa said. “So I just don’t understand, if I’m supposed to comply with the bill then why shouldn’t everybody.”

The measure could come up when the House convenes as early as Tuesday.

Illinois Radio Network can be reached at [email protected].