What do you mean by "standard wages"? Would that mean "union wages"? If so, that is price-fixing, pure, plain and simple. Let's face it, unions hate competition in the labor marketplace and they will get violent when protecting their price-fixed wages.
The Union Observer I talked to this morning (on my way into work, its on the corner) said "Regional prevailing wage" and that they calculated it by simply averaging the hourly rates the various construction companies in the area offer.
It is interesting and I will continue asking for more information. One good thing about these guys - they like to talk.