Jeffrey A. Risch, SmithAmundsen LLC
The Illinois Prevailing Wage Act requires contractors to pay workers a prevailing rate of wages and benefits while engaged on construction projects constructed by a public body. These projects are referred under the Act as public works. These terms [public body and public works] have been the subject of litigation and controversy over their intended meanings. Many construction projects have fallen prey to the Act’s ambiguity as to what specific projects be deemed as public works and thus subject to the Act’s coverage.