Project Labor Agreement Survey For Veterans Affairs Tampa Hospital Due March 25
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is soliciting comments from the construction community addressing the potential use of a government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) on a federal contract to build a new hospital bed tower at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, FL. TheTruthAboutPLAs.com encourages the merit shop contracting community to respond to this PLA survey. Tell the […]
Victory for Taxpayers – Fair and Open Competition Saved in Ventura County: Disagreements Among County Supervisors Kills Project Labor Agreement Proposed for $250 Million Hospital
At a special meeting this morning (Tuesday, March 13), the Ventura County Board of Supervisors rejected (on a 2-2-1 vote) a motion from the board chairman to require contractors to sign a project labor agreement (PLA) oriented toward the demands of the Tri-Counties Building and Construction Trades Council in order to work on a $250 […]
County Hospitals Are Prime Targets for Project Labor Agreements: Ventura County is the Latest in California
The first government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) in California (following the Boston Harbor decision at the U.S. Supreme Court) was imposed in the spring of 1994 by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors for a county hospital construction project. Last year, unions managed to squeak out (on a 3-2 vote) their first PLA for […]
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Crushes Fair and Open Competition for Hospital Project
The seven-month battle at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors over requiring contractors to sign the county’s first government-mandated project labor agreement (renamed on the May 24 agenda as a “Community Workforce Agreement”) came to an end today (May 24, 2011) with a regrettable result for county taxpayers, as well as businesses and their […]
University of Iowa Board of Regents Give Final Approval to Coralville PLA
The University of Iowa Board of Regents gave its final approval to a proposal to require a wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreement (PLA) on the construction of the $72 million University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics outpatient clinic at the Iowa River Landing in Coralville, IA. As we have reported in an earlier post, […]
Indy Star Letter to the Editor: Provide Equal Opportunity
The outcry over wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreements (PLAs) continues in Indiana. The Indianapolis Star published yet another letter to the editor in response to their article, “An Ailing Process,” published on January 24. This most recent letter, titled, “Provide Equal Opportunity,” was published February 2. Provide Equal Opportunity Thank you for the Jan. […]
The PLA Fight Moves to Indiana
The latest salvo in the fight for common sense – as opposed to union favoritism – to drive public construction contracting is taking place in Indiana, where state lawmakers have introduced legislation to end wasteful and discriminatory government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on state and state funded construction once and for all. The bill (H.B. […]
Independent Study Finds PLAs Increase Construction Costs
A TruthAboutPLAs.com reader sent us a June 2009 study conducted by property and construction consulting firm Rider Levett Bucknall prepared for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Construction and Facilities Management. The VA hired this firm to evaluate the cost impact of project labor agreements (PLAs) in various markets where the VA […]
Project Labor Agreement Wrong For Aurora
In a letter to the editor published in the Aurora Sentinel on October 11, Bob Roth of Aurora, CO outlines the negative impact of wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreements (PLAs). Letter: Project Labor Agreement Wrong for Aurora By BOB ROTH A disturbing thing is happening right under our noses, and I am willing to […]
State and Local PLA News Roundup: July 12-18
While much of this week’s attention focued on Obama administration attempts to encourage federal department and agency heads to utilize wasteful and discriminatory union-only project labor agreements, there have been PLA developments at the state and local levels that warrent attention as well. In Trumbull, CT subcontractors for the Trumbull High School renovation/reconstruction project have been selected. The local construction unions’ are […]