Joseph S. Pete

Munster is the latest Northwest Indiana community to adopt bidding requirements that trade unions say ensure taxpayer-funded projects are built by established, reputable contractors employing local labor.

The Munster Town Council voted unanimously Monday to approve a so-called responsible bidding ordinance. It requires certain qualifications from bidders on publicly funded projects, such as that they're registered with the Indiana Secretary of State's Office, that they graduate five apprentices a year for five years from an Indiana Department of Labor-certified apprenticeship program and that their number of Occupational Safety and Health Administration violations are below a certain limit.

The proposal had support from local contractors and the Northwestern Indiana Build

See Full Page