Minority Contractors Association in Portland, Oregon to Host PLA Forum
The National Association of Minority Contractors – Oregon is hosting a public forum on project labor agreements today (January 25, 2011) at the Kaiser Town Hall Bldg on N. Interstate (3704 N. Interstate) from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
In a January 19 opinion piece in the Portland-based The Skanner newspaper entitled Can the Unions Meet Proposed Diversity Goals?, a co-founder of the Oregon branch of the National Association of Minority Contractors questions whether or not unions will encourage more opportunities for minority businesses and their employees if Portland-area local governments require contractors to sign project labor agreements with unions.
Congressional hearings on this specific topic in September 2010 and in August 1998, as reported in www.thetruthaboutPLAs.com, suggested that the answer is NO. The Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors would agree, as also reported in www.thetruthaboutPLAs.com.
Here is the schedule for the Portland forum:
Attorney Colette Holt of Colette Holt Associates in Chicago will discuss the impact of Project Labor Agreement on minority businesses.
John Jackley of the Portland Development Commission, John Mohlis of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trade Council, and Patrick Brunner, Contracting Officer for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will participate in a panel discussion on “Project Labor Agreements & Public Projects: Understanding The Public Interest.”
Mike Salsgiver of the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter, Ben Guzman of Laborers Union (LIUNA) Local No. 320, and www.thetruthaboutPLAs.com blogger Kevin Dayton of Associated Builders and Contractors of California will participate in a panel discussion on “Project Labor Agreements & Impact on Small Businesses.”
If you live or work in the Portland, Oregon area and care about how project labor agreements cut competition from small businesses, in particular minority contractors, be sure to attend this event.
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