Union Leaders and Contractors Oppose Government-mandated Project Labor Agreements Too
The debate surrounding controversial government-mandated project labor agreements is often framed by the media, elected officials and policy wonks as a dispute pitting construction unions against nonunion contractors in a battle about whether the government should be enacting PLA preference and mandate policies that ultimately steer taxpayer-funded construction contracts to unionized contractors and create jobs […]
Diverse Coalition Supports Fair and Open Competition Legislation, Opposes Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
ABC and a diverse coalition of 17 construction industry and business associations sent a letter to the U.S. House and Senate in strong support of the Fair and Open Competition Act (H.R. 1284/S. 403), which was introduced Feb. 24 by Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.). An ABC Feb. 24 ABC press release applauded the introduction […]
ABC Applauds Bill to Increase Fair and Open Competition on Taxpayer-Funded Construction Contracts
ABC issued a Feb. 24 press release in support of the Fair and Open Competition Act. ABC Applauds Bill to Increase Fair and Open Competition on Taxpayer-funded Construction Contracts WASHINGTON, Feb. 24—Associated Builders and Contractors today voiced its strong support for the Fair and Open Competition Act (H.R. 1284/S. 403), which was introduced today by […]
U.S. DOT Promotes Government-mandated Project Labor Agreements in Infrastructure Grant Program
In a concerning development for the merit shop contracting community and hardworking taxpayers, the U.S. Department of Transportation is encouraging the use of government-mandated project labor agreements on federally assisted construction projects funded through a grant program administered by the DOT’s Build America Bureau. On Feb. 17, the DOT announced it is seeking applicants for […]
2021 Update: Courts Rule in Favor of #NoPLA Laws Promoting Fair and Open Competition
Numerous courts continue to uphold pro-taxpayer federal and state laws and/or executive orders prohibiting anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreements. Advocates of government-mandated PLA schemes have been unsuccessful in challenging such laws in the courts. As discussed in this February 4, 2021, letter to the Biden administration, ABC supports fair and open competition laws […]
February 2021 Update: ABC’s Fight Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
Among the many anticipated policy changes that will impact the construction industry following the November 2020 elections, the Biden administration and the 117th Congress are likely to attempt to enhance and expand the federal government’s current controversial policy of promoting costly government-mandated project labor agreements on taxpayer-funded construction projects. Doing so would create a rigged […]
BLS: 87.3% of U.S. Construction Industry Does Not Belong To A Union
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual union members summary report published Jan. 22, 2021, union membership in the construction industry declined in 2020. Just 12.7% of wage and salary workers were members of unions in the U.S. private construction industry in 2020, a slight increase from 12.6% in 2019. According to BLS […]
How Will The 2020 Election Shape Federal Policy on Project Labor Agreements?
The construction industry is watching the outcome of the 2020 elections closely as it will shape federal policy regarding government-mandated project labor agreements and other hot-button labor and employment issues of importance to the construction industry.
The District of Columbia Council Is Wasting Taxpayer Money on Project Labor Agreement Schemes
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 […]
Many Construction Industry Multiemployer Pension Plans Remain in Financial Distress
Merit shop contractors are typically wary of competing for taxpayer-funded construction contracts which are subject to government-mandated project labor agreements. Often their main concern is the viability of defined benefit multiemployer pension plans, which expose their businesses to potentially catastrophic MEPP liability. Information about the health of construction industry MEPPs provided by the U.S. Department of […]