The Truth About Project Labor Agreements

One more state says YES to ensuring taxpayer value on public construction projects!

Gov. Butch Otter yesterday signed S.B. 1006 banning state and political subdivisions from requiring contractors to sign a wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreement or other deals with a labor union as a condition of performing work on public projects.

Idaho joins six other states in prohibiting government-mandated PLAs on taxpayer funded work.

Members of the Inland Pacific Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors attended the bill signing with Gov. Otter and came back with these outstanding pictures.

Here is another one of Gov. Otter signing the bill:

This is a huge win for those who believe that public construction projects should go to the most qualified contractors at the best price, regardless of union affiliation.

While there has not been much PLA activity in Idaho in the past, this law could be key in preventing potential government-mandated PLAs on federally assisted projects in the future.  Readers of this blog know that there is a section of President Obama’s Executive Order 13502 that requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to make a recommendation to the president on whether the use of PLAs should be expanded to federally assisted projects.  Since potential future projects that are funded in part by the federal government will also be likely to receive state or local funds too, Idaho’s law prohibiting PLAs on these primarily state and locally controlled projects could make it very difficult for the Obama administration to mandate the use of PLAs.

The people of Idaho have spoken through their elected leaders.  They do not want their tax dollars spent on Big Labor handouts.  Let’s hope that the Obama administration and union bosses in Washington, D.C. get the message.