$1 Billion Airport Expansion in San Diego More Evidence that the Merit Shop Works
The merit shop construction community in Southern California again demonstrated this week they can create value for taxpayers without wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreements (PLAs). On Tuesday, the $1 billion expansion of San Diego’s Lindbergh Field opened to the public. This project was completed on time, under budget, created thousands of jobs, resulted in […]
New York’s Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Work Suspended Following Accidents on Project Labor Agreement Jobsite
Last week the New York Bridge Authority suspended work on the “Hamilton Fish” Newburgh-Beacon Bridge following two accidents on the $23 million contract. On June 13, a painter had to be airlifted to a hospital from the jobsite following an accident. A May 21 incident left two painters dangling from safety harnesses under the bridge (see article and image from […]
ABC California Critical of California High Speed Rail’s Union-Favoring Project Labor Agreement
At yesterday’s United States House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials field hearing in Madera, California, on the federally assisted California High Speed Rail project, ABC California submitted a statement for the record and issued a press release in opposition to the union-favoring project labor agreement (PLA) required by the California High Speed […]
Phase 2 Silver Line Bids Below Budget Without Project Labor Agreement Scheme
Last week the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) announced the award of a key contract to build the majority of Phase 2 of the controversial Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, known as the Silver Line. The $1.178 billion design/build Package A contract was awarded May 14 to Capital Rail Constructors, a joint venture consisting of Clark […]
Maine Gov. Paul LePage Criticizes Private PLA Mandate
Last week, Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) strongly came out against a project labor agreement (PLA) mandate proposed by Summit Natural Gas on the Kennebec Valley natural gas project, which is slated to cost more than $100 million. Gov. LePage’s office released a statement on March 21. Here are the highlights: Governor Expresses […]
PLA Video: The Negative Impact of a PLA Mandate on the Proposed California High-Speed Rail Project
Merit shop advocate Eric Christen from the Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction (CFEC) lays out the facts to LA-area Fox affiliate KKTV about the negative impact of a PLA mandated on the proposed high-speed rail project in California.
Research on Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
Read academic studies and reports to learn more about the failure of union-only government-mandated PLAs to control construction costs, increase work opportunities, prevent construction delays and improve safety, productivity or quality on construction projects.
Done Deal: Unions Will Control Construction on California High-Speed Rail with Project Labor Agreements
An article in the December 7, 2012 Fresno Bee newspaper (‘Needy’ Workers Will Get Jobs on High-Speed Rail) reports that all five design-build consortiums that are pre-qualified to bid on contracts for the first segment of California’s High-Speed Rail have signed a Project Labor Agreements (PLA) with construction trade unions: Five teams of contractors have been invited to […]
Maryland Cozies Up to Project Labor Agreement Schemes
Free enterprise is under attack in Maryland and the merit shop contracting community, which employs 88.6 percent of the state’s construction workforce, will be denied a fair opportunity to compete for construction contracts due to the rise of special interest favoritism. Two recent media reports highlight how Maryland lawmakers and the administration of Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) are capitulating to Big […]
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Abandons Project Labor Agreement Policy; Instead Directs Staff to Negotiate Project Labor Agreement for Sonoma County Airport Expansion
Without a vote, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors directed county staff on September 18, 2012 to negotiate a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with unions and with the input of contractors for the planned $54 million expansion of the runways at the Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport. Supervisors listed numerous items to be addressed in the negotiations […]