Silverstreak, Inc. v. STATE DEPT. OF LABOR

**What Happened** This case involved a dispute over whether end-dump truck drivers working on public construction projects in Washington should receive prevailing wages (higher wages set by the state for government projects). Silverstreak, Inc. and other employers argued they didn't have to pay these higher wages to their truck drivers. The Washington State Department of Labor disagreed and said the drivers were entitled to prevailing wages under state regulations. **What the Court Decided** The Washington Supreme Court ruled in favor of the employers. While the court agreed that the Department of Labor's interpretation of the prevailing wage rules was technically correct, it found that the Department couldn't enforce this interpretation. The court said the Department had created confusion by issuing a contradictory policy memo in 1992 and making inconsistent statements to employers over the years. Because of this inconsistency, the court prevented the Department from suddenly changing course and requiring prevailing wages. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling shows that even when workers may be legally entitled to higher wages, government agencies can lose the ability to enforce those rights if they send mixed messages to employers over time. It highlights the importance of consistent enforcement of labor protections.