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Massachusetts Question 2, Repeal Prevailing Wage Law for Public Works Initiative (1988)
| Massachusetts Question 2 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Public works labor and contracting |
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| Status |
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| Type Indirect initiated state statute |
Origin |
Massachusetts Question 2 was on the ballot as an indirect initiated state statute in Massachusetts on November 8, 1988. It was defeated.
A “yes” vote supported repealing the state’s prevailing wage law for public works construction. |
A “no” vote opposed repealing the state’s prevailing wage law for public works construction. |
Election results
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Massachusetts Question 2 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 1,063,324 | 41.82% | ||
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1,479,319 | 58.18% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 2 was as follows:
| “ | Do you approve of a law summarized below, which was disapproved by the House of Representatives on May 3, 1988, by a vote of 24-123, and on which no vote was taken by the Senate before May 4, 1988? | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
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The proposed law would repeal state law requiring that the wages, including payments to health and welfare plans, paid to persons employed in the construction of public works be no less than the wages paid locally under existing collective bargaining agreements and understandings, or by the municipality, for the same kind of work. Under the proposed law, the Commissioner of Labor and Industries would no longer set wage rates for such work or classify jobs. The proposed law would also remove the Commissioner of Labor and Industries authority to set the wage rates of employees of contractors who move office furniture and fixtures for the state or a county, city, town or district, and remove the Commissioners authority to set the wage rates of operators of vehicles and other equipment engaged in public works. The proposed law would not change the way wages are set for laborers employed by the state Department of Public Works and the Metropolitan District Commission. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes.
While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide.
In Massachusetts, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated state statute is equal to 3% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Massachusetts also has a distribution requirement that requires no more than 25% of the certified signatures on any petition can come from a single county.
The state Legislature has until the first Wednesday of May in the election year to pass the statute. If the legislature does not pass the proposed statute, proponents must collect a second round of signatures equal to 0.5% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. The Legislature also has the power to place an alternative measure alongside the proposed statute via a simple majority vote of the state legislature.
A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. However, the number of affirmative votes cast for the measure must be greater than 30% of the votes cast in the election.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Massachusetts Boston (capital) |
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