What is the issue regarding Volunteers and Prevailing Wages?
California law (Labor Code § 1720, et seq.) defines many projects that use public funding as public works projects and requires that anyone working on these projects receive prevailing wage. Prevailing wage is a wage scale set by the California Department of Industrial Relations. Because of this requirement people cannot volunteer on public works projects. Most of the restoration and environmental protection projects that you may be familiar with fall under this restriction.

What is the Coalition to Protect Watershed Volunteers and California’s Prevailing Wages?
The Coalition to Protect Watershed Volunteers and California’s Prevailing Wages is a group of community advocacy, education, and restoration organizations focused on finding a solution that will both protect fair wages for workers and preserve volunteer opportunities for Californians wanting to participate in watershed-based restoration, education and outreach projects. A steering committee including organizers from the California Watershed Network, The Watershed Project, Salmonid Restoration Federation, Urban Creeks Council, and Adopt-A-Watershed meets weekly to discuss the topic of prevailing wage and volunteerism.

What has happened to date?
In early 2004, California Watershed Network President Michael Wellborn sent a letter to the Governor requesting an administrative resolution that would allow volunteers to work on projects with paid workers. At a similar time, concern among statewide, regional, and local organizations aware of the detrimental impacts the volunteer ban will have on education and outreach projects in California, led to discussions about what alternatives existed to resolve the volunteerism and prevailing wage issue. Coordinated discussion quickly turned to the potential need for a legislative solution. Assemblywoman Loni Hancock of Berkeley was contacted and agreed to author a bill that would balance the interests of labor and the watershed community. On February 20, 2004, AB 2690 (“California Watershed Protection and Restoration Act”) was introduced. Discussions are now underway in the Legislature regarding this bill. A second letter to the Governor, sent March 25th, was signed by over 80 organizations and individuals and requested that the Governor get involved in both legislative and administrative actions to resolve the issue. As of the first of April 2004, the Schwarzenegger Administration has not responded with a firm proposal for resolving this issue administratively.

What Happens Next?
The Coalition will continue to work with Assembly Member Hancock to find either an administrative or legislative solution. Conversations with organized labor and members of various environmental organizations will continue. To support the Coalition’s efforts, organizations and individuals can send letters in favor of AB 2690 to Assemblymember Hancock’s office and a copy to michael@watershednetwork.org or sharon@thewatershedproject.org. To keep updated on the issue visit the CWN website at: http://www.watershednetwork.org/news.html or SRF website at www.calsalmon.org.