USACE Issues PLA Survey for McGuire DIx Lahurst Base Project in New Jersey
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a survey requesting information from the construction industry on the potential use of a project labor agreement (PLA) for the construction of the U.S. Army Flight Equipment Complex at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in N.J. TheTruthAboutPLAs.com encourages the merit shop contracting community to respond to the request […]
PLA Requirement Rescinded on NJ Vine Street School Project
There was an important story for taxpayers in Cumberland County, New Jersey last week, where freeholders voted to rescind a wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreement (PLA) requirement for an upcoming project that would transform the Vine Street School into a new home for the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s office. Here are the highlights from The […]
Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements Harm Union Contractors and Tradespeople
The debate surrounding government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) is often framed by the media and elected officials as a dispute pitting union signatory contractors and their union employees against nonunion contractors and their nonunion employees. However, a recent lawsuit attacking government-mandated PLAs on $6 billion worth of taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects through 2014 in New York City sheds light on unsung victims of these controversial, anti-competitive and costly special interest handouts that deny hardworking taxpayers the accountability they deserve from government contracts: Union contractors and some construction trade union members.
ABC Members Testify in Support of Legislation Restoring Fairness in Federal Contracting
On June 3, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform Subcommittee held a hearing, “H.R. 735 and Project Labor Agreements: Restoring Competition and Neutrality to Government Construction Projects.” The subcommittee, chaired by Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.), heard testimony about the negative impact of President Obama’s controversial Executive Order 13502 […]
ABC Wins Another Challenge Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements on Federal Construction Projects
TheTruthAboutPLAs.com is pleased to share a news release about ABC’s latest win against anti-competitive and costly federal government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs). ABC, ABC members and TheTruthAboutPLAs.com continue to lead the fight against special interest PLA schemes on behalf of the construction industry, concerned taxpayers and supporters of the principles of fair and open competition […]
New Jersey Letter to the Editor Tells the Truth About PLAs
In an outstanding letter to the editor published by the Trenton Times (“Building a Case Against PLAs,” 11/8/10), ABC New Jersey Chapter president Patrick Stewart lays out the facts about wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreements (PLAs). And interestingly enough, he gets some help from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Here […]
Federal Project Labor Agreement Removed from Army Project in Los Alamitos, California
Another costly and discriminatory government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) has been removed from a federal construction project thanks to grassroots participation from the construction community, concerned taxpayers, ABC members and their employees. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) removed a PLA from the bid solicitation for the construction of a $25 million to $100 million Army […]
ABC Wins Challenge Against Mandatory Federal PLA in New Jersey
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and its members have stopped another government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) on a proposed federal construction project. This is yet another blow to the Obama administration’s effort to implement Executive Order 13502, which encourages the use of PLAs on federal construction costing more than $25 million. In this most recent […]
Moorestown, NJ Rejects Wasteful and Discriminatory PLA for New Town Hall
There is a new chapter in the public record of poor performance of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs). Facing bid prices that were at least 35 percent higher than the proposed budget for the construction of a new town hall and library complex, the Moorestown Township Council decided to withdraw its requirement that all contractors […]
Asbury Park Press Calls On NJ Governor Christie To End The Use Of PLAs
In a January 24 editorial, the Asbury Park Press reduced newly inaugurated Governor Chris Christie’s 88 point plan for New Jersey into 20 items the editorial board believes should be tackled immediately. Item #17 caught our attention: 17. End the use of project labor agreements, which drive up the cost of public construction projects. Here […]