Democrats Give Cold Shoulder to Construction Labor Bosses at DNC
It is no secret the Democratic National Convention Committee’s (DNCC) decision to hold its convention in Charlotte, N.C.—a Right-to-Work state with the lowest union density of any in the country (2.9 percent) and an even smaller unionized construction industry workforce (1.2 percent)—has strained the cozy relationship between Big Labor and the Democrat Party. In the […]
Merit Shop Contractors Recognized for Safety Achievement and Performance on Federal NAVFAC Project
The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest has again recognized a joint venture between two merit shop contractors for their outstanding safety record and performance on a $175 million federal construction project at Naval Base Point Loma near San Diego, Calif. In February 2011, NAVFAC lauded the P-401 Replacement Fuel Facilities project, being built by […]
Another Successful Project Built By Merit Shop Contractor Without a PLA
Kudos to Western Water Constructors, Inc. for successfullly completing a $54.5 million wasterwater treatment plant for the Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD) in Oakley, Calif., on-time, on-budget and with an exemplary safety record. This large infrastructure project was completed without an anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) and provided value to ISD users and […]
Project Labor Agreements: Not What We Need, Not What We Deserve
Today, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) released a new video explaining the negative impact of union-favoring government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on taxpayers and the vast majority of the construction workforce that chooses not to join a labor organization. This video is just one more resource in the fight against wasteful government-mandated PLAs. Supporting facts […]
Boston Globe: Patrick Shouldn’t Bar Non-Union Workers on Longfellow Bridge
Two taxpayer-funded bridge projects in Mass. illustrates the stark contrast between the benefits of fair and open competition versus anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) advanced by well-connected special interests.
Reduced Competition Increases Costs
One fundamental economic principle is rarely wrong: Reduced competition increases costs. It is a fairly intuitive premise. Unfortunately, some government officials (often controlled by special interests) fail to grasp this basic economic concept. They often unwittingly—or even worse, knowingly—implement policies that unfairly cater to special interests or address both legitimate and erroneous public policy concerns at the […]
NAVFAC Recognizes Merit Shop Contractors for Safety, Value and Results
A joint venture between two merit shop contractors has been recognized by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest for their outstanding safety record and performance on a $175 million federal construction project at Naval Base Point Loma near San Diego, Calif. The project is being built without a PLA and is on-time, on-budget and is delvivering value to taxpayers, demonstrating why PLAs are not needed to complete large and complex projects for the federal government and other owners.
California Wastewater Treatment Plant Built By Merit Shop Contractor Without PLA Mandate
Cheers to Western Water Constructors, Inc. of Santa Rosa, Calif., for successfully completing a $38 million wastewater treatment plant for the Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) in San Rafael, Calif., on-time, on-budget and with an exemplary safety record. This excerpt from a Western Water Constructors press release (see below) demonstrates how fair and open competition free from anti-competitive […]
PLA Video Archives
It’s time we visited the PLA video archives. Although dated, this video was produced to explain the negative impact of a proposed PLA on a new arena for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. The Memphis Grizzlies arena project was built on time and on budget without a costly and discriminatory PLA. Happy 4th of July Weekend.