A trades group has picked a fight with the village of Port Byron, according to village board president Kevin Klute.
On Thursday, July 2, 2015, Klute said union representatives walked through Port Byron, handing out flyers asking "All tradespeople, our friends and business partners to not patronize Port Byron businesses." The letter, which was issued by "Trades professionals in the Quad City Region" was in response to the village board voting 4-2 against the state's prevailing wage increase.
In government contracting, a prevailing wage is the hourly wage paid to the majority of workers within a particular area.
"I find it despicable for them to go into town and threaten to take money out of the pockets of our local businesses so they can further an agenda," Klute told News 8.
"Maybe you have a conversation with us first before we start handing pamphlets in downtown Port Byron threatening to take the livelihood from our businesses," Klute added.
Klute said with the increasing prevailing wages, Port Byron is forced to pay 20 to 30 percent more for labor to get work done in the area. In essence, Klute explained the village would be paying more for less. If wages continue to increase, less work will get done in Port Byron and the village will continue to pay more each year, Klute added.
The board is expected to discuss prevailing wages during the July 6, 2015 board meeting at 6 p.m. located at Village Hall.
News 8 attempted to contact the "Trades Professionals in the Quad City Region," but attempts were unsuccessful.