The Truth About Project Labor Agreements

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the White House,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
Executive Order 13502 framed above the mantel with perfection,
Evidence of Big Labor’s influence in the 2008 Presidential election.

FAR Council members were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Final Rule fairies danced in their heads.
Merit construction firms and their employees fighting to get out of the recession’s trap,
Are worried that fair competition and free enterprise are doomed for an eternal dirt nap.

When out on the South Lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my jobsite to see what was the matter.

When, what do my wondering eyes assess,
But a menacing sleigh, called the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Express.
With a crusty old driver, so irrelevant, corrupt and thick,
The public has been primed to fall for Big Labor’s old trick.

PLAs for short, are lumps of coal reducing competition,
From 84 percent of the construction workforce who have built this great nation.
They are marketed as a tool to control costs and stop worksite friction,
Yet their performance is so poor, these selling points are more like fiction.

They force nonunion employees to pay union fees,
And follow ancient union work rules that brings efficiency to its knees.
Employee fringe benefits must go to union funds – it’s caught many retirement advisers off-guard,
Because these dollars are forever forfeited – unless workers sign a union card. 

A windfall for Big Labor, it’s all part of their plan,
To shore up pension accounts and take handouts from Uncle Sam.
Grow ranks, increase membership, recruit more for the team!
How else will they fund their retirement Ponzi scheme?

If PLAs are bad for employees, they are worse for their bosses,
Less building and more PLAs make it difficult to swallow 2009 losses.
Forcing contractors to choose union labor instead of their employees out of work all year,
PLAs are bad for morale and production – should Santa deliver presents with substitute reindeer?

Taxpayers suffer most from this needless discrimination,
America is paying 18 percent more for construction because of free market manipulation.
One less hospital, school or tunnel for every four that are made,
That’s the gift of corruption in this pay-to-play trade.

Executive Order 13502 and PLAs are the quid in this pro quo game,
In exchange for political contributions, donations and more of the same.

Big Labor’s legislative Wish List is the source of economic frustration,
With job-killing presents wrapped neatly with increased taxation.
On, Job Targeting! on, Employee Free Forced Choice Act and Davis-Bacon expansion!
Is there no end to Big Labor’s special interest legislation? 

Get involved, take action, the tipping point is here,
Haven’t gone out of business yet, 2010 may be the year.
Unless you urge your elected officials to support legislation that is key,
For starters, ask them to cosponsor S. 90 or H.R. 983.

These bills will ensure construction opportunities are truly open to all,
And rein in big spending and keep the government deficit small.
Democrat or Republican, naughty or nice,
Remember pols work for us and its their job to obtain the best price. 

Politicians must give PLAs the Heave-Ho; they’re not welcome this Christmas season,
If they stammer and stutter they have supplied you a reason,
To vote them out of office on the next Election Day,
We need smart leadership and government accountability without delay.

So go forth, spread the good news of PLA-free fair competition,
To every school board, state chamber and county commission.
Some parting words from TheTruthAboutPLAs.com before we continue the good fight,
“Merry Christmas and free enterprise to all, and to all a good-night!”