The Truth About Project Labor Agreements

On March 5, ABC and a coalition of 14 industry and employer groups sent a letter to President Biden raising concerns about the expansion of policies encouraging or mandating project labor agreements on federal and federally assisted construction projects. ABC and the coalition are monitoring Biden administration executive actions, federal agency policies and legislation introduced in the 117th Congress that […]

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ABC supports fair and open competition and opposes government-mandated project labor agreements on federal and federally assisted projects because hardworking taxpayers deserve more efficient and effective policies that will encourage all qualified contractors and their skilled workforce to compete to build long-lasting, quality projects at the best price. Just 12.7% of the U.S. construction workforce belongs […]

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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 […]

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Omaha District has issued a survey soliciting comments from the construction industry about the potential use of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) for a project on Offutt Air Force Base in Sarpy County, Nebraska. ABC National encourages the merit shop contracting community to respond to this PLA survey. Tell USACE […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York District has issued a survey soliciting comments from the construction industry about the potential use of a government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) for work to be performed at West Point, New York. ABC National encourages the merit shop contracting community to respond to this PLA survey. Tell USACE government-mandated […]

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