Halakhah for Bava Metzia 6:2

הַשּׂוֹכֵר אֶת הָאֻמָּנִין וְחָזְרוּ בָהֶן, יָדָן עַל הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה. אִם בַּעַל הַבַּיִת חוֹזֵר בּוֹ, יָדוֹ עַל הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה. כָּל הַמְשַׁנֶּה, יָדוֹ עַל הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה. וְכָל הַחוֹזֵר בּוֹ, יָדוֹ עַל הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה:

If one hired craftsmen [contractually — so much work for so much money], and they backed out [after doing part of it], they have the lower hand. [If the price of labor went up and he cannot find anyone to complete the work at what is owed the first towards its completion, he holds back from what is owing them as much as he needs for the work to be completed at the cost stipulated with the first. And if the price of labor went down, and he can find someone to complete the work for less (than what is owed the first toward its completion), he estimates what they have done and pays them as stipulated. If they did half, he gives them half pay; and they cannot say: "You have other workers to complete the job — give us all of our wage less what these take."] If the employer backs out, he has the lower hand. [He must pay them for what they have done; and if the price of labor went down, he must perforce pay them as stipulated (for the whole job) less what he must pay to complete it.] Whoever makes changes has the lower hand. [As when one gave a dyer wool to be dyed red and he dyed it black. If the improvement (in the wool) is greater than the expense, he does not give him his full wage, but only what covers the cost of wool and dyes. And if the expense is greater than the improvement, he gives him the (amount of) the improvement.] And whoever backs out has the lower hand. [This, to include one who sells his field to his neighbor for a thousand zuz, receiving two hundred in advance. If the seller backs out, the buyer has the upper hand. If he wishes, he can tell him: "Give me my money," and if he wishes, he can tell him: "Give me land for my money." And if the buyer backs out, the seller has the upper hand. If he wishes, he can tell him: "Here is your money," and if he wishes, he can tell him: "Here is land for your money."]

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