April 2022 Update: ABC’s Fight Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements Continues
Since President Biden signed Executive Order 14063, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, on Feb. 4, 2022, mandating project labor agreements on federal construction projects of $35 million or more, numerous lawmakers and taxpayer and business groups have renewed fierce opposition to the Biden administration’s push for government-mandated PLAs on both federal […]
How Will The 2020 Election Shape Federal Policy on Project Labor Agreements?
The construction industry is watching the outcome of the 2020 elections closely as it will shape federal policy regarding government-mandated project labor agreements and other hot-button labor and employment issues of importance to the construction industry.
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 […]
House Lawmakers Ask President Trump to Eliminate Obama Policy Promoting Project Labor Agreements
Last week, U.S. House lawmakers urged President Trump to rescind a costly Obama administration policy encouraging the use of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs). The letter (pdf) signed by 44 House Republican lawmakers, urges President Trump to rescind Executive Order 13502, “which strongly encourages federal agencies, on a case-by-case basis, to consider requiring project labor agreements […]
ABC Touts Benefits of Fair and Open Competition on Varney from The White House
Topping out a successful Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Legislative Week 2018, ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman gave a June 29, 2018, interview with Fox Business’ Stuart Varney from the White House where he touted the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to the construction industry and promoted the value of fair and open competition […]
24 States Ensure Fair and Open Competition, 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 […]
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 […]
New York Post Op-Ed Zings NY Gov. Cuomo for Shameless Pay-to-PLA Pledge
The New York Post published an op-ed by ABC Empire State Chapter President Brian Sampson (“How union construction privileges bleed taxpayers dry,” 6/8), blasting New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) for his outrageous promise to union bosses and members at the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York’s May 8th rally as part of […]
USACE Baltimore District Labor Market Survey Due May 25
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has issued a survey soliciting comments from the construction industry about the potential use of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) for large scale (greater than $25 million) construction projects in the State of Maryland. TheTruthAboutPLAs.com, a project of ABC National, encourages the merit shop contracting community to respond to this PLA survey. Tell […]
USACE New York District Project Labor Agreement Survey Due May 10
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has issued a survey soliciting comments from the construction industry about the potential use of a government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) for maintenance on the Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point, New York, Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet Stabilization (FIMI) project, with an estimated cost between $25 […]