Dave Branson

May 3, 2019

OPINION: Prevailing-wage repeal, not as benign as some would have you believe

Prevailing-wage laws require that construction workers on public construction projects be paid the wages and benefits offered on similar jobs performed by local Wisconsin workers.

Oct 25, 2018

Wisconsin Building Trades Council endorses Democrats in fall election

The Wisconsin Building Trades Council announced Thursday that it has endorsed a group of Democrats seeking state and federal offices in the general election scheduled for Nov. 6.

Oct 15, 2018

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: ABC’s defense of Gov. Walker falls flat

A recent letter to the editor from John Mielke of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin made the argument that Gov. Scott Walker has been the biggest cheerleader for apprenticeship throughout Wisconsin, and he closes his piece by claiming “we should not distort reality.”

Sep 26, 2018

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Governor Walker’s support of apprenticeship isn’t new

Last month, Associated Builders & Contractors held one of Wisconsin’s first-ever “Apprenticeship Signing Days,” replicating signing-day events that are held for high-performing student athletes recruited into four-year universities to play sports.

Sep 21, 2018

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Walker’s apprenticeship plans too little, too late

You can tell its election time when career politicians like Gov. Scott Walker start telling a new story that isn’t based in reality.

Jan 6, 2017

Private sector embraces PLAs. Why shouldn’t governments?

State Rep. Rob Hutton's attempt to ensure "the importance of providing a neutral and competitive playing field" by prohibiting the use of project-labor agreements on taxpayer-funded projects flies in the face of the realities of today’s construction industry, and is a direct affront to the wishes and desires of the American electorate during the recent election.