Boston Globe Editorial Board Slams Massachusetts Governor’s Pro-Project Labor Agreement Executive Order
On March 11, 2025, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy (D) issued Executive Order No. 641 Using Project Labor Agreements to Promote Successful Delivery of Major Projects. The EO, announced at the Massachusetts Building Trades Annual Convention, seeks to encourage government-mandated project labor agreements on state construction projects estimated to cost $35 million or more. The EO […]
Oregon Editorial Exposes Gov. Kotek’s Project Labor Agreement Gift to Unions
The Oregonian editorial board had some choice words about Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s (D) gift to construction trades unions in the form of a new executive order requiring controversial project labor agreements that are sure to inflate the cost of state and state-assisted construction projects funded by taxpayers (“Editorial: Merry Christmas, Labor Unions! Love, Gov. […]
Gov. Green’s New Project Labor Agreement Policy to Harm Hawaii’s Construction Workers and Businesses
Pursuant to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green’s (D) Administrative Directive (AD) 24-01, all contractors accepting awards for Hawaii executive agency construction procurements exceeding $1.5 million in cost to the state must execute an agreement to be bound by a standardized project labor agreement of general application throughout the state. Effective February 16, 2024, AD-24-01 provides for […]
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s Project Labor Agreement Executive Order Will Hurt Maryland’s Construction Workforce and Firms
On Nov. 17, 2023, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore issued an executive order that requires the consideration of union-favoring project labor agreements on construction contracts procured by state agencies where the state’s financial commitment is $20 million or greater. The EO also includes new community benefit agreements and government-registered apprenticeship policies in addition to troubling pro-PLA language. Maryland construction industry […]
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 […]
24 States Ensure Fair and Open Competition, Restrict Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
On Feb. 6, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13502, which encourages federal agencies to mandate controversial project labor agreements (PLAs) on large-scale federal construction projects—those exceeding $25 million in total value—on a case-by-case basis, and permits states and localities to mandate PLAs on federally assisted projects. Since President Obama issued Executive Order 13502, 23 […]
Iowa Law Restricts Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements, Protects Hawkeye State Construction Industry
On April 13, Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Iowa) signed SF 438 into law, which promotes fair and open competition on contracts for construction services funded by Iowa taxpayers. The measure will ensure that the government cannot mandate controversial project labor agreements (PLAs) on state, state-assisted and local construction projects, guaranteeing that the 85 percent of Iowa’s […]
Courts Rule in Favor of #NoPLA Laws Promoting Fair and Open Competition
Proponents of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) have unsuccessfully challenged federal and state laws and executive orders that prevent lawmakers and agencies from imposing anti-competitive and costly union-favoring PLA requirements on taxpayer-funded construction projects. When mandated by government entities, PLAs have a dismal track record of increasing costs, reducing competition, and discriminating against experienced construction companies […]
Victory in Idaho: Appeals Court Upholds Idaho Law Protecting Fair and Open Competition on Public Construction Projects
Big news out of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit: Idaho’s law restricting state agencies or political subdivisions from requiring contractors to enter into project labor agreements (PLAs) as a condition of performing public work stands. There are no legal challenges against any of the enacted 23 state anti-PLA mandate laws or executive […]