PLAs Increase Costs

97% of ABC Contractors Say Biden’s Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreement Policies Would Make Federal Construction More Expensive

0 October 17, 2022  Featured, Federal Construction

According to a September 2022 survey of ABC contractor members published Sept. 28, 2022, 98% oppose President Biden’s proposed rule mandating project labor agreements on federal construction projects of $35 million or more. PLA schemes needlessly increase costs and exacerbate the construction industry’s skilled labor shortage because they exclude almost nine out of 10 workers […]

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Advocacy Campaign Opposes Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreement Schemes in Infrastructure Bill

1 July 26, 2021  Featured, Federal Construction, Transportation & Infrastructure

As Congress continues to craft legislation implementing a bipartisan infrastructure framework, ABC  issued a July 13 press release announcing a digital advocacy campaign opposing costly government-mandated project labor agreement schemes on the federal infrastructure legislation. ABC-Led Coalition Announces Six-Figure Advocacy Campaign Build America Local, a coalition of construction industry and business organizations led by Associated […]

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New Mexico County Debating CWA/PLA Ordinance

0 September 18, 2020  State & Local Construction

Bernalillo County, the largest county in the State of New Mexico, is currently weighing an ordinance that would require a community workforce agreement (CWA), also known as a project labor agreement, on all county projects valued at over $5 million. The ordinance also says that at least three trades must be employed on the project […]

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The District of Columbia Council Is Wasting Taxpayer Money on Project Labor Agreement Schemes

0 August 13, 2020  Featured, State & Local Construction

District of Columbia voters and businesses monitoring revenue shortfalls and proposed tax hikes in the D.C. Council’s FY2021 budget, passed July 23 and awaiting future action from Mayor Bowser, should be concerned about $50 million to $100 million in waste and increased costs resulting from a scheme by some D.C. Council members and construction trade […]

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Lawsuit Says Union-Signatory Contractor Excluded by Project Labor Agreement Mandated on Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission Scudder Falls Bridge

0 August 13, 2019  State & Local Construction, Transportation & Infrastructure, Uncategorized

Joseph N. DiStefano, columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, knows a good story about corruption and waste at the expense of hardworking taxpayers when he sees one. In a column published August 12, 2019, DiStefano takes aim at a fishy project labor agreement scheme on a bridge construction project, mandated by an interstate bridge commission, that […]

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Survey: ABC Members Strongly Oppose Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements

0 January 30, 2019  Featured, Federal Construction, Open Competition Works, State & Local Construction

ABC members overwhelmingly reported that government-mandated project labor agreements harm their businesses, hiring and workforce development practices and ability to complete work safely, on time and on budget, according to the results of a December 2018 membership survey published today. Ninety-eight percent of survey respondents said they were less likely to bid on a taxpayer-funded construction contract […]

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Project Labor Agreements Raise Costs on Ohio Schools 13 Percent, Study Finds

0 May 25, 2017  Open Competition Works, School Construction, State & Local Construction

A study by the Beacon Hill Institute has shown that when mandated by the government on taxpayer-funded construction projects, project labor agreements (PLAs) increase the costs of construction 13.12 percent. The study examined 88 schools across Ohio that were built since 2000 and found government-mandated PLAs cost $23.12 per square foot more (13.12 percent) than projects built […]

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WSJ Project Labor Agreement Op-Ed: A Wisconsin Lesson for Trump the Builder

0 April 18, 2017  Featured, Federal Construction, State & Local Construction, Transportation & Infrastructure

The Wall Street Journal editorial and op-ed pages have invested barrels of ink opposing anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs). In numerous instances (see pieces at end of blog post) the WSJ editorial board has derided PLA mandates, calling them “crony contracts,” “a rotten deal for taxpayers,” and worse: “PLAs are a form of political bid-rigging that robs […]

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West Jefferson Hills School Board Members Who Support a 15% Cost Increase

11 October 7, 2015  Featured, School Construction, State & Local Construction

Carolyn Bourgeois Email Darlene Schreiber Email John Hosmer Email Dr. David Graham Email Anna Louise Lilley Email Anthony M. Angotti Email Alan J. Caponi Email PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) MANDATES ARE BAD FOR THE WEST JEFFERSON HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT. How PLAs Increase Costs PLA Mandates INCREASE Project Costs – studies show these mandates increase school construction […]

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