A Bridge to Albany’s Spoils System?
TheTruthAboutPLAs.com has followed the Lake Champlain Bridge project labor agreement (PLA) controversy closely (“Update on Lake Champlain Bridge Project Labor Agreement Controversy,” 2/27 and “A Bridge to Government Waste and Discrimination,” 2/16). The Plattsburgh, N.Y. Press Republican published an Op-Ed today opposing the Lake Champlain Bridge PLA by Becky Meinking, president of ABC Empire State (“Spoils […]
Update on Lake Champlain Bridge Project Labor Agreement Controversy
TheTruthAboutPLAs.com covered the controversial proposed project labor agreement (PLA) on the Lake Champlain Bridge project spanning from Crown Point, N.Y. to Chimney Point, N.H. (“A Bridge to Government Waste and Discrimation,” 2/16). Here is an update for readers following this story. On Feb. 12 the Vermont Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing on the Lake Champlain Bridge […]
A Bridge to Government Waste and Special Interests
Nonunion contractors, their employees and prominent VT and NY construction trade associations are outraged about a proposed government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) on the Champlain Bridge reconstruction and one group is even considering a lawsuit to stop this special interest handout to Big Labor. The reconstruction of “The Bridge to Government Waste and Special Interests” – […]
Anti-Competitive and Wasteful PLA on Champlain Bridge Project Criticized by ABC Empire State
The Empire State Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors issued this press release in opposition to a proposed government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) on the Champlain bridge reconstruction project spanning from Essex County, NY to Addison County, VT that is funded by federal, NY and VT dollars. TheTruthAboutPLAs will provide additional coverage on this story soon. February 12, […]
Utica School Board Gives Sweetheart Deal To Big Labor
A quick note from Utica, NY, where the Utica Board of Education approved a requirement that PLAs be implemented on $187.6 million of upcoming capital construction in the district. Utica’s Observe-Dispatch noted the following as a footnote to an unrelated story: The board approved a project labor agreement setting construction workers’ wages for the $187.6 […]
Mets Citi Field Project Labor Agreement in “Foul Territory”
The New York Post reported that Citi Field, the new $850 million home of MLB’s New York Mets, is riddled with construction defects (“Mets in ‘Foul’ Territory,” 9/6). Financed with $697 million in tax-free bonds from the city and state that will be paid off by the Mets organization, Citi Field was constructed with a discriminatory […]
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 […]
Dutchess County Lawmakers Fail to Override Veto on PLA Requirement
The Dutchess County, NY Legislature failed to override County Executive William Steinhaus’ veto of a bill requiring PLAs on all county projects costing in excess of $3.5 million. Here’s an excerpt from the Poughkeepsie Journal’s coverage: Legislators voted 15-10 Tuesday night, failing to get at least 17 votes required to override the veto. Proponents of […]
Largest Public/Private Industrial Investment in New York History Off Limits for Non-Union Labor
The Business Review (Albany) reports that GlobalFoundries has committed to building its $4.2 billion chip plant, the largest public/private industrial investment in the state’s history, with a discriminatory and costly project labor agreement (PLA) (“Done deal: Work begins on $4.2 billion chip fab,” 6/12). GlobalFoundries this week submitted a letter to the Empire State Development […]
Bad Choices All Around
Saratoga Springs, NY is in the midst of a budget crisis and hoping federal stimulus money for construction can spur the local economy. The only problem is the 2008 New York Wicks Law “reform” may force Saratoga Springs into a wasteful and discriminatory union-only PLA. In 2008, New York “reformed” their Wicks Law, which is […]