The Truth About Project Labor Agreements

TheTruthAboutPLAs.com is a project of Associated Builders and Contractors designed to track and disseminate news and relevant information about the detrimental effects of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs). PLAs are costly and discriminatory pre-hire construction agreements that effectively restrict merit shop contractors and their employees from bidding and working on construction projects.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national trade association representing 22,000 members from more than 19,000 construction and industry-related firms. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 72 chapters help members win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. Visit us at www.abc.org.

ABC was founded in 1950 when seven contractors gathered in Baltimore, Md. to create an association based on the shared belief that construction projects should be awarded on merit to the most qualified and responsible low bidders. Their courage and dedication to the merit shop philosophy spread rapidly, and within time, ABC became the fastest-growing association in the United States.

Today, ABC is recognized as one of the leading organizations representing America’s business community and the U.S. construction industry.

ABC’s Vision is to lead the construction industry, promoting and defending the guiding principles of the merit shop and free enterprise whereby anyone can succeed solely on merit.

Our Bloggers

Ben Brubeck is the Director of Labor and Federal Procurement for Associated Builders & Contractors in their National office in Arlington, VA. Brubeck has been with ABC National Government Affairs since October 2003 and previously served as ABC’s Labor and State Affairs Director, Business and Labor Relations Manager, State Affairs Coordinator and Federal Legislative Assistant. A recognized leader in both state and federal labor issues, Brubeck has extensive experience with union-only PLAs, Davis-Bacon and state prevailing wage laws among other key labor matters throughout the United States.

Prior to joining ABC, Brubeck was the 2003 James A. Finnegan Foundation Fellow and was employed at the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee. Brubeck has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA and is a native of Connecticut.

Andy Conlin is the Manager for State and Local Affairs for Associated Builders & Contractors in their National office in Arlington, VA. Prior to joining the ABC National Government Affairs Team in June 2007, Conlin gained extensive experience in state legislative affairs as a Maryland state legislative staffer and an analyst with a private consulting firm specializing in state policy. Conlin is a graduate of Purdue University and a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Geoffrey Burr is Vice President of Government Affairs at Associated Builders & Contractors in their National office in Arlington, VA. As Vice President, Geoff oversees the Legislative, Political, Legal and Regulatory Departments at ABC, which includes oversight over all of ABC’s federal lobbying activities and political fundraising and advocacy.

Prior to accepting his current position and signing on for his second tour with ABC, Geoff spent three years as a political appointee, serving in the Bush Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). At DOL, Geoff served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, where he managed a large staff tasked with promoting the Department’s legislative goals and priorities on Capitol Hill as well as among state and local officials.

Prior to entering government service, Geoff served in a variety of positions at ABC over an almost six year period. He is a graduate of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Kevin Dayton was the State Government Affairs Director for Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of California through March 2012 before starting his own California-based firms, Labor Issues Solutions, LLC and the Dayton Public Policy Institute. He coordinated ABC’s state and local political operations, including issue analysis and the development and implementation of strategies to protect open bid competition and freedom of choice in apprenticeship training.

Kevin held various government affairs management positions for ABC at the federal, state, and local level from 1995 to 2012. Before working for ABC, Kevin was a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Representative Gary A. Franks (R-CT). He graduated from Yale University.

Maurice Baskin is the co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group of the law firm Venable LLP, based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Mr. Baskin focuses on all aspects of labor and employment law representing construction industry employers, including many government contractors. He also serves as General Counsel to Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. He has appeared frequently before the National Labor Relations Board and the courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He is listed as one of the Top 100 labor lawyers in the country by the Labor Relations Institute and is identified in Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America as one of the top labor and employment lawyers in the DC area.

On occasion, TheTruthAboutPLAs.com will host the opinions of non-affiliated bloggers. While we attempt to broaden the discussion, we do not claim responsibility for their views, opinions, or statements.

Disclaimer: Nothing in the comments or views posted on this site should be considered to be legal advice or opinion.

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