HTH Companies v. Mo. Dept. of Labor & Industrial Relations

**HTH Companies v. Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations** This case was about how much asbestos workers should be paid on government construction projects in Missouri. HTH Companies and other employers challenged the state's decision to set the prevailing wage at $38.00 per hour for these specialized workers. The employers argued that the state labor department made a mistake when calculating this wage rate by not including apprentice workers' lower wages in their calculations. The court sided with the Missouri Department of Labor and rejected the employers' challenge. The judges upheld the $38.00 hourly wage rate and agreed that apprentice wages should not be counted when determining what experienced asbestos workers should earn on public projects. The court found that the labor department followed proper procedures in setting this prevailing wage. This decision matters for workers because it protects higher wage standards on government-funded construction projects. Prevailing wage laws ensure that contractors can't undercut wages by paying below-market rates when working on public buildings, schools, or infrastructure projects. By excluding apprentice wages from these calculations, the ruling helps maintain fair compensation for skilled trades workers and prevents a race to the bottom on wages for taxpayer-funded construction work.