ABC Asks President Trump to Review Policies that Impede Competition and Job Creation

On July 29, ABC sent a letter to President Trump applauding him for issuing two executive orders, Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery and Accelerating the Nation’s Economic Recovery from the COVID-19 Emergency by Expediting Infrastructure Investments and Other Activities, which will help to remove burdensome barriers to job creation and help the economy continue to rebound from the COVID-19 crisis.

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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.

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ABC Hits the Airwaves to Advocate for Merit Shop Construction

Ben Brubeck, ABC’s vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs, conducted 11 radio and TV interviews during the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 27 in Washington, D.C. Brubeck discussed the outlook for construction spending and infrastructure investment, highlighted the industry’s response to its current skilled labor shortage and promoted the benefits of fair and open competition on taxpayer-funded construction contracts.

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Baltimore City Council Contemplates PLA Mandate

A bill introduced in the Baltimore City Council by Councilmember Shannon Sneed and Council President Brandon Scott would make sweeping changes to the City of Baltimore’s procurement laws. The proposed ordinance, File 20-0488, would impose government mandated project labor agreements on any construction contract valued at $25 million or more. 

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Virginia General Assembly Moves Legislation Requiring PLAs and Prevailing Wage on Public Works

In control for the first time since 1993, Democratic leadership in Virginia’s General Assembly is poised to pass legislation at the expense of Commonwealth taxpayers who finance the construction and maintenance of schools, affordable housing roads, bridges, transportation projects and other infrastructure projects in disrepair.
 

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Study: Project Labor Agreement Mandates Inflate the Cost of Connecticut School Construction by 19.8%

A study released in January 2020 by the Beacon Hill Institute found that Connecticut schools built under controversial government-mandated project labor agreements cost 19.8% more than schools that were bid and constructed through fair and open competition, free from PLA requirements.

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Study: Project Labor Agreement Mandates Inflate Cost of New Jersey School Construction by 16.25%

A study released in August by the Beacon Hill Institute found that New Jersey schools built under controversial government-mandated project labor agreements cost 16.25% more than schools that were bid and constructed through fair and open competition, free from PLA requirements.

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Controversial Multiemployer Pension Plan Bill Advances in Congress

On July 24, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act (H.R. 397) by a vote of 264-169 with 29 Republicans supporting the majority. Advocates argue the measure is needed to protect the pensions of 1.3 million workers in certain multiemployer pension plans and prevent the collapse of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, while critics maintain the legislation is a taxpayer-funded bailout of MEPPs and does little to address the fundamental structural flaws of MEPPs.

 

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Nevada Reforms Prevailing Wage Law, Repeals PLA Neutrality

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) recently signed into law two pro-union pieces of legislation that will revise construction provisions on public works projects. The first, AB 136, makes three substantive changes to the states prevailing wage law.  Read the rest of entry »

ABC, Industry Groups Urge President Trump to Reverse Obama-era Policy on PLAs

ABC joined a coalition of construction and business associations urging President Trump to eliminate government-mandated project labor agreements and allow for the vast majority of qualified contractors and their skilled employees to compete for federal and federally assisted taxpayer-funded construction projects. Read the rest of entry »