Mass Lawmakers Give Project Labor Agreements the Green Light After Legal Defeat and Bad Press
Massachusetts lawmakers have passed legislation giving local and state government stakeholders the green light to mandate anti-competitive and costly project labor agreements on taxpayer-funded construction projects. The legislative maneuver follows a decision from a Massachusetts court that struck down a government-mandated PLA for violating state competitive bidding laws. On November 14, 2024, Massachusetts lawmakers approved […]
Op-Ed: Project Labor Agreements Discriminate Against New Jersey’s Minority Businesses and Workforce
A powerful Black History Month op-ed by the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey CEO John Harmon makes the connection between New Jersey’s project labor agreement policy and discrimination against minority businesses and workers. It’s a common complaint against PLA schemes echoed by the National Black Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders. Check […]
Maine Governor Mills Surprises Union Lobby with Veto of Project Labor Agreement Legislation
In a surprising turn of events bucking traditional Democratic Party alliances and controversial Biden administration policies, on June 26, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) vetoed legislation she introduced related to future offshore wind projects after the bill was amended by the legislature to include anti-competitive and inflationary project labor agreement requirements favored by union lobbyists.
A Win for Fair and Open Competition: Wyoming Passes Law Restricting Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
Associated Builders and Contractors praised the Wyoming legislature and Gov. Mark Gordon for enacting SF 147, the Fair and Open Competition Act, which protects Wyoming taxpayers by ensuring all of the state’s skilled construction workforce can compete on a level playing field for contracts to build state, state-assisted and local public works projects. Once in […]
2021 Update: Courts Rule in Favor of #NoPLA Laws Promoting Fair and Open Competition
Numerous courts continue to uphold pro-taxpayer federal and state laws and/or executive orders prohibiting anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreements. Advocates of government-mandated PLA schemes have been unsuccessful in challenging such laws in the courts. As discussed in this February 4, 2021, letter to the Biden administration, ABC supports fair and open competition laws […]
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 […]
Virginia Delays Enactment of Prevailing Wage and PLA Mandate Laws Until May 2021
During its annual reconvene/veto session April 22, the Virginia General Assembly agreed with Gov. Ralph Northam (D) and delayed the effective date of two laws permitting prevailing wage and project labor agreement requirements on taxpayer-funded public works projects. The General Assembly originally sent these bills, passed via party line votes, to the desk of Gov. […]
National Black Chamber Of Commerce Calls Virginia’s Project Labor Agreement Legislation Discriminatory
The National Black Chamber of Commerce CEO Harry Alford had some strong words about discriminatory project labor agreements and prevailing wage laws in a March 17, 2020, letter to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D), in response to recently passed Virginia legislation that would allow the Commonwealth and its localities to require PLAs on taxpayer-funded construction […]
Virginia General Assembly Sends Project Labor Agreement and Prevailing Wage Legislation to Gov. Northam – Take Action
Virginia’s General Assembly has sent legislation to Gov. Ralph Northam’s desk that will needlessly increase the cost of taxpayer-funded public works construction projects, discourage competition from Virginia’s construction workforce and businesses. In addition, the legislation will steer contracts to out-of-state workers and firms instead of creating opportunities for certified small, women and minority contractors to […]
Virginia Considers Legislation Requiring Project Labor Agreements and Prevailing Wage on Public Works Construction
Legislation in Virginia’s General Assembly will lead to tax hikes or fewer public works construction projects procured by the Commonwealth’s state and local governments. In addition, it will needlessly increase construction costs and steer contracts to out-of-state unionized businesses and unionized workers at the expense of Virginia’s construction industry.