ABC’s Texo Chapter Nov. 15 was successful in banning government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on municipal projects in the city of
Lewisville, Texas.
The Lewisville City Council voted 5-0 in favor of the ordinance, which prohibits the city from requiring PLAs on municipal contracts. The ordinance was modeled after a similar ordinance that passed in San Diego County Nov. 2.
Lathan Watts, vice president of workforce development/public affairs and a member of the Lewisville City Council, noted that elected officials have a responsibility to get the best deal possible for any project paid for by taxpayers’ money.
"Union-only project labor agreements on government-funded construction projects are anti-competitive measures that achieve nothing other than a higher price tag for taxpayers,” said Watts. “These pre-hire agreements are illegal in every other industry except construction, so until our state and federal elected officials summon the courage to stand up to powerful union lobbyists and make these preferential agreements illegal in construction as well, it is up to local elected officials to do so for their cities. I was proud to do so for Lewisville and hope other cities in Texas and the nation will follow suit."