U.S. House Education and Labor Committee Senior Republican Member: Project Labor Agreements Offer Preview of Employee Free Choice Act

0 October 9, 2009  Federal Construction, Uncategorized

Rep. John Kline, senior Republican member of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor, issued a press release warning Americans that the government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) on the U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps Center in Manchester, New Hampshire and Executive Order 13502 is the “evil twin” of the Employee Free Forced Choice Act (EFCA) (“PLAs Offer Preview of EFCA,” 10/8).

No accountability. Workers forced to pay for union benefits that they might not have asked for.  Restricts competition. Special interest handout. This sounds a lot like the Employee Free Choice Act – and it’s not even a law yet. Looks like EFCA may have more than one (equally) evil twin.

TheTruthAboutPLAs.com agrees and reminds voters and elected officials that there is a legislative solution to EFCA’s evil twin.  The Government Neutrality in Contracting Act (S. 90/H.R. 983), introduced Jan. 6 by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and Feb. 11 by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) protects federal and federally-funded construction contracts from government-mandated PLAs and will allow all qualified contractors to have a fair and open chance at competing to rebuild America’s infrastructure.

Here are some facts about the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act:

  • Codifies language from President Bush’s Executive Order 13202 into law.
  • Prohibits federal agencies engaged in federal and federally-assisted construction contracting from requiring any contractor or subcontractor to sign a union agreement as a condition of performing government work.
  • Applies to contracts awarded by federal agencies and construction managers acting on behalf of government agencies.
  • Applies to local or state projects receiving federal financial assistance.
  • Contractors are permitted to voluntarily enter into PLAs.

Express your opposition to President Obama’s Executive Order 13502, which encourages the use of PLAs on federal construction projects over $25 million, by supporting this the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act.

Help preserve full and open competition on federal and federally-funded construction contracts and call or write your elected officials today.

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