Flagmen, from the Eagle Tribune.....

Editorial: Flaggers set up to fail from the outset


One has to marvel at the twisted logic of government officials. First they interfere with the operation of free markets, then complain that the unexpected results prove free markets don't work.

A case in point comes from the struggle to do in Massachusetts what every other state in the union does without a hitch — use civilian flaggers on highway construction sites.

A major construction project is about to begin on Route 128 and our sister newspaper The Salem News reports that the state will be shelling out $53.81 an hour for civilian flaggers in the work zone.

That's more than the $40 to $44 per hour police will earn directing traffic on the same project.

Gov. Deval Patrick's 2008 decision to break the state and local police monopoly on road details was supposed to save taxpayers money. But the public employee unions and their lackeys in the state Legislature are working together to see that never happens.

Weak-livered legislators are eager to throw up their hands and declare the civilian flagger experiment a failure. What they should be doing is working nonstop to dismantle the prevailing wage law, which is the reason the cost of civilian flaggers is so high.

The prevailing wage law, which dates back to 1914 and survived a 1988 ballot repeal attempt, dictates that the flaggers be paid the union laborer's rate, which in this area amounts to $34.40 an hour. Tack on what contractor D.W. White Construction must pay in taxes, benefits and administrative costs, and the total cost to the state comes to a rather shocking $53.81 an hour.

"It's disappointing to say the least," said state Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich, "but not surprising."

Hill said getting his Democratic colleagues to change things is extremely difficult.

Rep. Ted Speliotis, D-Danvers, a member of the House leadership, illustrates the problem plainly. He admitted to The Salem News that the cost of civilian flaggers is "a double slap at taxpayers." Yet in the same breath he defends the public employee unions doing the slapping.

"You hear of other states," Speliotis said, "where flaggers make $15 an hour. That sounds reasonable." But he conceded that he knows of no way to make that happen here. "To union bash is the wrong thing to do."

It works in other states, Rep. Speliotis, because their legislatures represent the people, not the special interests of public employee unions.

If taxpayers and their representatives on Beacon Hill are serious about reducing the artificially inflated cost of public construction projects, they must first do something about the prevailing wage law.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------OK-- So here we go, first let me say I thought this civilian flagmen thing was ridiculous from the start. My reasoning is this. I am way on the other side from those who drive by the police officer working A detail and say, blah blah blah donut eating, blah blah waste of money blah blah blah,,you get the idea. If this cop wants to spend his day being sure no one get's hurt, or causes an accident at A jobsite good for him. I think that is A great way to have another policeman around during the day, maybe he will just help out A lost motorist,but perhaps A store get's robbed down the street? Perhaps someone grabs A child and takes off?? Perhaps there is A reason to get medical assistance for someone working on the job? Anyway to further my point. I don't think the starting salaries for policeman are very high, they are constantly at risk just for putting on the uniform, these are the men and women you are going to call to save your life if someone breaks in your home? Or to return your stolen property, or to stop the drug's from coming into your town..Do you really wan't to make that an occupation that pay's 30,000 A year????? Let these folks do the details, they are providing for families this is work, and time they are away from thier families to increase the meager salary. We ask A lot and continue to ask more of these folks on A regular basis good heavens give them A bone once and A while....As far as the prevailing wage, be very careful, the union workers that make the 34 dollars an hour are the only reason companies aren't highering people for 9 dollars an hour. I for one know I couldn't work enough to provide for my family at that!! Please remember these are your friends and neighbors, people have the right to make an honest living!! The cost of living here is A bit more than in Alabama or somewhere that pays the flaggers 15 dollars an hour!!!You want to do something about cost overruns? start having the job's done when the job estimates are done. Stop getting an estimate for work years before the work is done. Stop putting bandaids on all our infrastructure and fix things right the first time. Think about it!!