Construction workers protest outside state lawmaker's office

As a state House member, Rep. Stan Saylor is paid more than $80,000 and will receive a pension that makes private sector employees envious, says constituent Bryan Yingling

But while Yingling is helping to pay Saylor's salary, the representative is one of several in the House who want to lower Yingling's wage, he said.

That's why the 54-year-old carpenter from Chanceford Township was one of about 40 construction workers who picketed outside Saylor's Main Street Red Lion office Monday, he said.

The issues: Members of the group were stationed at each corner of the square of Red Lion, distributing flyers addressed to the "Working Citizens of York County."

At issue are 12 bills Saylor supports, including prevailing wage reform and right-to-work legislation.

Under prevailing wage, workers are paid more to work on public projects, such as school construction. And right-to-work legislation, which has drawn ire from union advocates, would bar union contracts from requiring non-union members to pay representation fees.

"Take a look at his wages and benefits, and yet he wants to lower construction workers' wages," said Stanton Bair, 54, of Dover Township.

Members of the group said they represented no union or other organization, but were simply "concerned taxpayers."

And Saylor isn't the only York County legislator being targeted. They'll also soon make appearances at the office of state Rep. Ron Miller, R-Jacobus, who chairs the House Labor and Industry Committee, and others, they said.

Yingling said Saylor and other legislators claim prevailing wage is unfair because York County workers are paid the same wages as workers in areas where the cost-of-living is higher, such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. But Yingling said he's paid a lower York County rate, about two-thirds of the big-city pay.

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Construction workers protest outside state lawmaker's office