2020 Update: ABC’s Fight Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
In February 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13502, which encourages federal agencies to mandate project labor agreements on large-scale federal construction projects exceeding $25 million in total cost on a case-by-case basis and permits recipients of federal assistance to mandate PLAs on state and local public works projects. Many merit shop advocates and public policy professionals predicted […]
Virginia Considers Legislation Requiring Project Labor Agreements and Prevailing Wage on Public Works Construction
Legislation in Virginia’s General Assembly will lead to tax hikes or fewer public works construction projects procured by the Commonwealth’s state and local governments. In addition, it will needlessly increase construction costs and steer contracts to out-of-state unionized businesses and unionized workers at the expense of Virginia’s construction industry.
Op-Ed Offers Solution to Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreement Problem
The Hill published an op-ed by ABC CEO and President Michael Bellaman laying out three key policy recommendations for Congress and the Trump administration to enact in order to continue the construction industry’s positive economic growth (“Time for Cogress to bolster Trump’s roadmap for rebuilding America,” 6/27/18). The op-ed is part of ABC’s one powerful […]
Coalition Asks President Trump To Let All Americans Rebuild U.S. Infrastructure
Politico’s Morning Transportation reports that Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and a coalition of 13 other construction and business associations sent President Trump a Jan. 24, 2018, letter urging the administration to eliminate government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal and federally assisted projects, allowing all qualified contractors and Americans to fairly compete to build and […]
A Total of 24 States Restrict Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
On Feb. 6, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13502, which encourages federal agencies to mandate controversial project labor agreements (PLAs) on large-scale federal construction projects—those exceeding $25 million in total value—on a case-by-case basis, and permits states and localities to mandate PLAs on federally assisted projects. Since President Obama issued Executive Order 13502, 23 […]
Missouri Passes Law Restricting Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
Yesterday Gov. Eric Greitens (R-Mo.) signed legislation into law that will promote fair and open competition on contracts for construction services funded by Missouri taxpayers. SB 182, the Fairness in Public Construction Act, ensures controversial project labor agreements (PLAs) cannot be mandated by the government on state, state-assisted and local construction projects, guaranteeing that almost three […]
Iowa Law Restricts Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements, Protects Hawkeye State Construction Industry
On April 13, Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Iowa) signed SF 438 into law, which promotes fair and open competition on contracts for construction services funded by Iowa taxpayers. The measure will ensure that the government cannot mandate controversial project labor agreements (PLAs) on state, state-assisted and local construction projects, guaranteeing that the 85 percent of Iowa’s […]
House Committee Passes Fair and Open Competition Act Targeting Federal Project Labor Agreement Mandates
This week the merit shop contracting community hit an important legislative milestone in its campaign for fair and open competition in government contracting. ABC issued a press release Tuesday applauding the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for favorably reporting out of committee the Fair and Open Competition Act (H.R. 1552), introduced in the 115th Congress by […]
Coalition to House: Champion Bill Reforming Unfair Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreement Schemes
A diverse coalition of construction industry associations and employer groups sent a letter to the United States House of Representatives March 16 opposing government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) and anti-competitive PLA preferences used by federal agencies as a result of President Obama’s pro-PLA Executive Order 13502 and related regulations. The letter asks House members to cosponsor the Fair and Open Competition Act (H.R. 1552), […]
Coalition to Senate: Cosponsor Bill Restricting Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
A diverse coalition of construction industry associations and employer groups sent a letter to the United States Senate March 14 opposing government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) and anti-competitive PLA preferences used by federal agencies as a result of President Obama’s pro-PLA Executive Order 13502 and related regulations. The letter asks Senators to cosponsor the Fair and Open Competition Act (S. 622), introduced in the 115thCongress […]