Federal Appeals Court Finds NLRA Could Preempt Jersey City Project Labor Agreement Ordinance
A federal appeals court has reversed the New Jersey District Court’s decision to uphold a Jersey City project labor agreement (PLA) ordinance that forced developers to enter into a PLA with construction trade unions as a condition of recieving tax abatements on certain projects. The decision paves the way to repeal Jersey City’s discriminatory and costly pro-PLA […]
Project Labor Agreement Mandate Scheme Rejected by Minnesota School Board
ABC continues to push back against costly and inefficient government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) at the local level. This week, the Farmington School Board in Minnesota voted 4-1 to reject a PLA requirement for its upcoming school construction and repair projects. Last fall the voters of Farmington approved a $45 million referendum for these projects. […]
ABC Continues Successful Fight Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
In 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13502, which encourages federal agencies to mandate project labor agreements (PLAs) on large-scale federal construction projects exceeding $25 million in total cost on a case-by-case basis. Many merit shop advocates of fair and open competition predicted it would lead to billions of dollars’ worth of federal construction contracts being […]
West Virginia Becomes 22nd State Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
West Virginia became a bit more wonderful today for taxpayers, the contracting community, and supporters of fair and open competition. By signing SB 409 this morning, West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin became the first Democrat Governor in the nation, and the 19th governor since January 2011, to sign legislation or an executive order banning wasteful […]
ABC Is Still Winning the Fight Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements in Federal Contracting
In 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13502, which encourages federal agencies to mandate project labor agreements (PLAs) on large-scale federal construction projects exceeding $25 million in total cost on a case-by-case basis. Many merit shop advocates of fair and open competition predicted it would lead to billions of dollars’ worth of federal construction contracts being […]
South Dakota Becomes the 20th State to Adopt PLA Reform
South Dakota is the latest state to say “NO” to wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreement (PLA) mandates. Today, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) signed H.B. 1212 into law, which will prohibit government entities in the state from requiring contractors to sign a PLA, or any other agreement with labor unions, as a condition […]
Alabama Becomes the 19th State to Adopt PLA Reform, South Dakota Bill Clears Legislature
Alabama is the latest state to say “NO” to wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreement (PLA) mandates. Yesterday, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) signed H.B. 195 into law, which will prohibit government entities in the state from requiring contractors to sign a PLA, or any other agreement with labor unions, as a condition of performing […]
Survey Finds Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements Reduce Competition
In October 2013, ABC National conducted an electronic survey of ABC members about a variety of topics, including the impact of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on competition for contracts to build public construction projects. Participants were asked to respond to this simple question: “Would you be more likely or less likely to bid on a public construction […]
Union’s Criticism Misses Mark on U.S. Department of Labor’s New Hampshire Job Corps Center Project Labor Agreement Scheme
During Labor Day weekend, two New Hampshire newspapers ran pieces critical of New Hampshire Building and Construction Trades Council President Pat Casey’s Op-Ed attacking Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) and the merit shop contracting community for their opposition to an anti-competitive and costly union-favoring government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) on the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Manchester, N.H., […]
U.S. Department of Labor’s New Hampshire Job Corps Center to Break Ground Today without a Project Labor Agreement Scheme
The fight for fair and open competition in federal contracting will reach an important milestone today. This afternoon’s groundbreaking for the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Manchester, N.H., Job Corps Center is expected to attract a number of federal, state and local public officials, according to a Union Leader article (“Job Corps center to serve […]