Members of the Associated Builders & Contractors of the Carolinas and the Carolinas AGC are speaking out against the potential use of project labor agreements (PLAs) on large-scale construction projects (exceeding $25 million) by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District (USACE). PLAs are precedent-setting mechanisms implemented to encourage unionization in states such as the Carolinas where positive, productive pro-employee/union-free environments exist.
“ABC promotes open competition,” said Doug Carlson, ABC President & CEO. “Project Labor Agreements (PLA) waste taxpayer funds, limit competition, and eliminate 98% of contractors in the Carolinas from working on government taxpayer funded projects. Grassroots efforts are critical to voice our industries concerns.,” he added.
The Carolinas AGC has urged its members to write to the United States Army Corps of Engineers in opposition of PLAs, in efforts to keep free and open competition in all public construction markets though out both states. The contractors association strongly opposes the use of government mandates for PLAs on publicly funded construction projects—particularly on large dollar contracts—and believes publicly financed contracts should be awarded without regard to pro-union labor relations policies and practices of the government contractor.
Contractors can read about the proposed Project Labor Agreement by the Army Corps of Engineers Here.