The Truth About PLAs

Thoughts on the Wisconsin Recall Elections

August 11, 2011 – 12:08 pm

While this blog is focused on the negative impact of project labor agreement (PLA) mandates on taxpayer funded construction, we have kept a watchful eye on both the Wisconsin recall elections and the debate over S.B. 5 in Ohio in recent months and have some thoughts to share. Many observers project that more than $30 [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2010 Election, local legislation, PLA Ban, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Increase Costs, Recall Elections, The Politics of PLAs, Wisconsin | Comments (0)

MI Open Competition Act Protecting Taxpayers and Merit Shop Construction Workers

August 9, 2011 – 1:49 pm

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed S.B.165 on July 19 and it is already having an impact for taxpayers and the vast majority of the construction workforce that chooses not to join a labor union. This week, Wayne State University cancelled an RFP for the renovation of a softball locker room that contained a requirement that [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABC Michigan, Detroit, Michigan, Michigan State University, PLA Ban, State Legislation, University Construction | Comments (1)

BREAKING: MI Gov. Snyder Signs Bill to Ban Government-mandated PLAs

July 19, 2011 – 4:23 pm

Gov. Rick Snyder (R) has signed Michigan S.B. 165, which will prohibit the use of wasteful and discriminatory government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on state, local, university and state assisted construction in Michigan. This will have serious implications in places like Ann Arbor, Detroit, Macomb County and Michigan State University, where past PLA requirements have [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABC Michigan, Executive Order 13502, Michigan, Michigan State University, PLA Ban, PLAs, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Increase Costs, President Obama, State Legislation | Comments (0)

Maine Governor Signs Open Competition Bill into Law

July 13, 2011 – 3:47 pm

Maine is the land of good lobster, fine mustard and now open competition for taxpayer funded construction! Maine Governor Paul LePage (R) has signed L.D. 1257, which will keep government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) off state construction through October 2015. In Maine, more than 9 out of ten construction workers choose not to join a [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Maine, PLA Ban, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Discriminate, PLAs Increase Costs, Project Labor Agreements, State Legislation, Union-only PLAs harm local workers | Comments (2)

Stanislaus County Supervisors Vote to Approve Open Competition Ordinance

July 12, 2011 – 8:04 am

Today, the elected Board of Supervisors for Stanislaus County, Calif., voted 5-0 for a Fair and Open Competition ordinance. This will be the eighth local government in California to ensure taxpayers get the best quality construction at the best price by banning government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on county-funded construction projects. Lawmakers at all levels [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABC California, California, County, local legislation, Northern California, Open Competition, PLA Ban, Placer County, PLAs, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Discriminate, PLAs Increase Costs, Project Labor Agreements, Stanislaus County, Union-only PLAs harm local workers | Comments (1)

Breaking: Michigan and Maine Legislatures Pass PLA Bans

June 29, 2011 – 4:15 pm

Today is a huge day for those who think free enterprise and open competition should determine how taxpayer-funded construction contracts are awarded in America. Lawmakers in Maine and Michigan passed bills that ban government-mandated PLAs on state funded construction. Once they are signed into law, they will ensure that taxpayers get the best construction at the [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABC Michigan, Legislation, Maine, Michigan, PLA Ban, PLAs, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, President Obama, State Legislation, Union-only PLAs harm local workers | Comments (2)

Louisiana Bans Government-Mandated PLAs on State Funded Projects

June 28, 2011 – 9:59 am

The wave continues! With Gov. Bobby Jindal’s signature yesterday of S.B. 76, Louisiana is now the fifth state to ban government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) to some degree in 2011 and the ninth state to do so nationwide. This is a huge development for taxpayers in Louisiana. This bill guarantees that free enterprise – not Big Labor [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Executive Order 13502, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, PLA Ban, PLAs, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Increase Costs, President Obama, Project Labor Agreements, Right to Work, State Legislation, Union-only PLAs harm local workers | Comments (1)

Louisiana Legislation Would Ban Government-Mandated PLAs

May 26, 2011 – 11:58 am

The drive to prohibit wasteful and discriminatory government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) in Louisiana got some national media attention this week. Here are the highlights from the May 25 Washington Examiner piece, “Project Labor Agreements Could be Used to Undermine Right to Work Laws and Force Double Payment of Benefits.” “Louisiana’s Right-to-Work Law allows employees within [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Louisiana, PLA Ban, PLAs, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Increase Costs, Right to Work, State Legislation, Union-only PLAs harm local workers, Washington Examiner | Comments (0)

Tennessee Becomes the Latest State to Ban Government-Mandated PLAs

May 23, 2011 – 12:24 pm

On Friday, May 20, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R) signed HB 1498, which prohibits the use of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on state and local construction projects. It also prohibits involuntary PLAs on projects that receive state financial support and bars local elected officials from enacting wage requirements that are higher than Tennessee’s prevailing [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Economic Development, Legislation, PLA Ban, PLAs, PLAs Increase Costs, State Legislation, Tennessee, Union-only PLAs harm local workers | Comments (0)

PLA Legislation on the Move – Mid-May Edition

May 8, 2011 – 2:55 pm

Tennessee Legislation to prohibit wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreements (PLAs) on state and local construction projects is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam (R) for his signature or veto. We urge Gov. Haslam to take quick action on this bi-partisan legislation, HB1498, which will protect taxpayers from these Big Labor handouts on public [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Executive Order 13502, Maine, PLA Ban, PLAs, PLAs Discriminate, PLAs Increase Costs, President Obama, Project Labor Agreements, protest, State Legislation, Tennessee, Union-only PLAs harm local workers | Comments (0)

Thoughts on the Wisconsin Recall Elections

MI Open Competition Act Protecting Taxpayers and Merit Shop Construction Workers

BREAKING: MI Gov. Snyder Signs Bill to Ban Government-mandated PLAs

Maine Governor Signs Open Competition Bill into Law

Stanislaus County Supervisors Vote to Approve Open Competition Ordinance

Breaking: Michigan and Maine Legislatures Pass PLA Bans

Louisiana Bans Government-Mandated PLAs on State Funded Projects

Louisiana Legislation Would Ban Government-Mandated PLAs

Tennessee Becomes the Latest State to Ban Government-Mandated PLAs

PLA Legislation on the Move – Mid-May Edition

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