{"id":4122,"date":"2010-10-02T12:16:04","date_gmt":"2010-10-02T16:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/old.visionpayroll.com\/kb\/?p=4122"},"modified":"2010-10-03T12:16:18","modified_gmt":"2010-10-03T16:16:18","slug":"massachusetts-dos-releases-opinion-letter-on-university-of-massachusetts-%e2%80%93-amherst-print-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/old.visionpayroll.com\/kb\/2010\/10\/massachusetts-dos-releases-opinion-letter-on-university-of-massachusetts-%e2%80%93-amherst-print-shop\/","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts DOS Releases Opinion Letter on University of Massachusetts \u2013 Amherst Print Shop"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety (DOS)<\/a> issues prevailing wage schedules to cities, towns, counties, districts, authorities, and agencies of the Commonwealth for construction projects and several other types of public work. These prevailing wage schedules contain hourly wage rates that workers must receive when working on a public project.<\/p>\n

DOS Recently Released <\/strong>PW-2010-11-07.29.10 on Prevailing Wages<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

The DOS<\/a> regularly issues Prevailing Wage Opinion Letters<\/a> and recently released PW-2010-11-07.29.10<\/a>. This letter confirms that the University of Massachusetts is one of \u201cthe several departments of the government of the commonwealth\u201d and therefore subject to MGL, c. 5, \u00a71. As such, the print shop at the University of Massachusetts \u2013 Amherst \u201cmust require its printing contractors\u2026to pay prevailing wage rates to their employees.\u201d<\/p>\n

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MA EOLWD Secretary Joanne F. Goldstein<\/div>\r\n<\/div>MGL, c. 5, \u00a71 Mandates Prevailing Wages<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the DOS<\/a>, the relevant part of MGL, c. 5, \u00a71 provides as follows:<\/p>\n

The commissioner of administration, or any other awarding official<\/em>, in the advertising for bids or the placing of orders for the execution of printing, composition, proof reading, presswork, all processes used in the making of printing plates, paper ruling and binding, or for the supplying of office stationery and blank books without printed headings, for the several departments of the government of the commonwealth other than the legislative department\u2026<\/em> Contracts or orders shall be given to such establishments only as pay the prevailing rate of wages, based on wage rates and working hours that have been established by collective bargaining agreement or understanding between organized labor and employers; provided, that nothing herein contained shall prevent said commission, or any other awarding official, from placing contracts or orders with existing state institutions or departments which furnish printing or other work of the kind and character above mentioned…<\/p>\n

The University of Massachusetts is One of the Several Departments of the Government of the Commonwealth<\/strong><\/p>\n

The DOS<\/a> concludes that the preponderance of the authority indicates that the University of Massachusetts is one of \u201cthe several departments of the government of the commonwealth\u201d. Among other factors are the following<\/p>\n