Op-Ed: Project Labor Agreements Discriminate Against New Jersey’s Minority Businesses and Workforce
A powerful Black History Month op-ed by the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey CEO John Harmon makes the connection between New Jersey’s project labor agreement policy and discrimination against minority businesses and workers. It’s a common complaint against PLA schemes echoed by the National Black Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders. Check […]
BLS: A Record 89.3% of the U.S. Construction Industry Is Not Part of a Union
According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2023 Union Members Summary released Jan. 23, 2024, a historic low of 10.7% of the construction industry belongs to a union, a decline from 11.7% in 2022. BLS reports that 7.9 million construction workers were not members of a union in […]
December 2023 Update: ABC’s Fight Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
Since President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14063, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, on Feb. 4, 2022, mandating inflationary and anti-competitive project labor agreements on federal construction projects of $35 million or more, numerous lawmakers and taxpayer and construction industry groups have renewed fierce opposition to the Biden administration’s push for […]
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s Project Labor Agreement Executive Order Will Hurt Maryland’s Construction Workforce and Firms
On Nov. 17, 2023, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore issued an executive order that requires the consideration of union-favoring project labor agreements on construction contracts procured by state agencies where the state’s financial commitment is $20 million or greater. The EO also includes new community benefit agreements and government-registered apprenticeship policies in addition to troubling pro-PLA language. Maryland construction industry […]
Biden’s Project Labor Agreement Schemes Aggravate Construction Industry’s Skilled Labor Shortage
The construction industry is projecting a historic shortage of more than half a million skilled workers in 2023. It is also facing serious supply chain disruptions unprecedented materials cost inflation of 39% since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty caused by a tsunami of Biden administration regulations impacting the construction industry. The Biden administration […]
Maine Governor Mills Surprises Union Lobby with Veto of Project Labor Agreement Legislation
In a surprising turn of events bucking traditional Democratic Party alliances and controversial Biden administration policies, on June 26, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) vetoed legislation she introduced related to future offshore wind projects after the bill was amended by the legislature to include anti-competitive and inflationary project labor agreement requirements favored by union lobbyists.
April 2023 Update: ABC’s Fight Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements Intensifies
Since President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14063, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, on Feb. 4, 2022, mandating inflationary and anti-competitive project labor agreements on federal construction projects of $35 million or more, numerous lawmakers and taxpayer and business groups have renewed fierce opposition to the Biden administration’s push for government-mandated […]
New Jersey Court Rules Toll Bridge Commission’s Project Labor Agreement Scheme Illegal
On April 4, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court ruled (pdf) that a commission authorized by New Jersey and Pennsylvania law to build and maintain Delaware River bridges lacked the authority to require controversial project labor agreements. At issue were a contractor’s allegations that the Delaware Joint Toll Bridge Commission violated its […]
A Win for Fair and Open Competition: Wyoming Passes Law Restricting Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
Associated Builders and Contractors praised the Wyoming legislature and Gov. Mark Gordon for enacting SF 147, the Fair and Open Competition Act, which protects Wyoming taxpayers by ensuring all of the state’s skilled construction workforce can compete on a level playing field for contracts to build state, state-assisted and local public works projects. Once in […]
Delaware Law Dabbles With Project Labor Agreement Schemes Harmful to Local Construction Industry
Delaware Governor John Carney signed into law S.B. 35, an appropriations bill in part authorizing Delaware’s office of management and budget and transportation department to require “community workforce agreements” (a project labor agreement euphemism) pursuant to procurement pilot programs governing a maximum of six projects, subject to requirements for annual reporting on various project delivery […]