PUBLIC NOTICE: Preparations for 2009 Local Wage Survey under way Published March 27, 2009 By Local Wage Survey Committee TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- The Federal Wage System was developed under provisions of public law in 1972. Rates of pay for employees FWS (WS, WD, WL, WG) are called prevailing rates and are reflective of pay rates for similar private sector jobs in the same geographical area. Prevailing rates are based on the following principles: 1) Equal pay for substantially equal work, 2) Maintaining the levels of rates of pay in the line with prevailing rates in the local wage, and 3) Maintaining such rates to pay to attract and retain quality prevailing rate employees. The Department of Defense is designated by the Office of Personnel Management to serve as the lead agency in approximately 115 wage areas. The Department of Defense Wage Staff provides guidance to the Local Wage Survey Committee (LWSC) to assure timely completion of the wage survey. The wage survey for the Oklahoma City area will occur in August. Several data collection teams will visit selected businesses and gather information about wage rates paid to employees performing work, which compares to certain grades of FWS jobs. Each business establishment must have at least 50 employees and be located in Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, McClain or Pottawatomie counties. Rates piad to state and local government trades workers are not considered as part of the survey process. The following jobs are required by regulation to be under survey: janitor (light), janitor (heavy), material handler, maintenance laborer, packer, helper (trades), warehouseman, fork lift operator, material handling equipment operator, truck driver (medium), truck driver (heavy), machine tool operator II, machine tool operator I, carpenter, electrician, automotive mechanic, sheet metal mechanic, pipefitter, welder, machinist, electronics mechanic and toolmaker. The LWSC may recommend other jobs be surveyed. In previous surveys, aircraft mechanic and aircraft structures assembler positions were also surveyed. The LWSC will conduct hearings on April 15 in Bldg. 1, Room 210, Arnold Street. The purpose of this hearing is to permit presentation of information, requests and recommendations by the local organizations and individuals concerning the areas, industries, establishments and jobs to be covered in the wage survey. The LWSC is not authorized to hear issues/requests outside the purpose stated above. Recommendations and supporting evidence should be submitted in writing before or at the hearings. Call Janelle Robinson at 739-3877 by April 13 to submit information or to schedule an appointment to testify before the committee.