PLAs & The Law

Expert Advice: Beware of PLA Multiemployer Pension Plan Mandates

0 June 29, 2009  Uncategorized

PLAs often require contractors to participate in union multi-employer pension programs mandated via applicable union collective bargaining agreements referenced in PLAs .  Contributing to multi-employer pension plans is problematic for nonunion contractors for a variety of reasons highlighted here. An interesting article by Chang, Ruthenberg and Long Employee Benefit Attorneys warns employers about the problems with contributing […]

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PLA Archives: White House Executive Orders Concerning Project Labor Agreements

0 June 25, 2009  Federal Construction, Uncategorized

After reading our previous posts on President Obama’s Executive Order 13502, a TruthAboutPLAs.com reader contacted me with concerns about Section 7 of Obama’s Executive Order 13502, which asks the Secretary of Labor, OMB Director and other Obama administration officials to make recommendations about the broader use of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal and federally assisted construction […]

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Is President Obama’s Pro-PLA Executive Order Even Legal?

0 May 12, 2009  Federal Construction

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council is in the process of issuing regulations to implement President Obama’s Executive Order 13502, which declares that executive agencies awarding contracts on “large scale construction projects” (having a total cost to the federal government of $25 million or more) “may, on a project-by project basis, require the use of […]

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Gaming the System: California’s Environmental Laws Are Pivotal to Unions Winning Project Labor Agreements from Private Developers

0 May 11, 2009  State & Local Construction, Uncategorized

In California, Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) are the primary tactic used by construction unions to gain market share in the industry.  And PLAs are not confined to public works projects.  Particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sacramento area, the City of Los Angeles, and the San Diego area, private developers have been signing […]

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PLA Laws in the States: Some Say NO to Project Labor Agreements, Others CAVE to Union Pressure

0 May 8, 2009  State & Local Construction, Uncategorized

While the federal government is tripping over itself to give handouts to Big Labor by encouraging government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects exceeding $25 million, several states have enacted legislation or issued executive orders rejecting wasteful and anti-competitive PLAs.  Since 1995, five states now prohibit government-mandated PLAs on public construction projects.  Leaders in […]

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