By
a narrow margin May 17, the House banned federal agencies from requiring project
labor agreements on act-authorized construction work.
The Associated Builders and
Contractors are big fans of an amendment to the 2013 National Defense
Authorization Act that narrowly passed the U.S. House.
By a vote of 211-209, the
House May 17 banned federal agencies from requiring project labor agreements on
act-authorized construction work.
“This is a victory for the
nation’s merit-shop construction contractors and the 86 percent of the
construction work force that chooses not to join a labor union,” said ABC Vice
President of Federal Affairs Geoff Burr. “With a construction industry
unemployment rate of 14.5 percent, everyone deserves a level playing field to
compete for this work, regardless of labor affiliation.
Project labor agreements,
sometimes called PLAs, generally allow unions to negotiate pay and other terms
on construction projects. They are opposed by groups such as the ABC, which lobbies
against mandatory union membership.
“The amendment passed today will
ensure fair and open competition on government-funded construction contracts,
as well as give taxpayers and the government the best possible construction
product at the best possible price – completed safely and on time,” Burr said.
“We thank the members of Congress who voted in favor of this amendment.”
Report Abusive Comment