PLAs/Union Labor Articles

The following is a list of articles compiled by BuildRI in support of the use of project labor agreements. Where possible, the full text of the article is included on the web page or in PDF format.

The article list is updated frequently, so check back soon or contact info@BuildRI.org for more information.

 

Public Sector Project Labor Agreements: An Objective Review
"...the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) commissioned and published a paper by its own law firm, entitled "A Detailed Policy & Legal Analysis of Public Owner Project Labor Agreements." That paper is misleading in so many respects..."

Losing Ground: Lessons from the Repeal of Nine "Little Davis-Bacon" Acts
"Like the 1931 federal Davis-Bacon Act, legislation in 41 states has required that the "prevailing" wage be paid on state-government-funded construction projects. Between 1979 and 1988, however, nine states repealed their prevailing wage laws..."

Prevailing Wage Laws in Construction: The Costs of Repeal to Wisconsin
"The federal Davis-Bacon Act and the state prevailing wage standards require construction contractors working on government funded projects to pay their employees no less than the average wage paid in their occupation by private contractors in the locality..."

Apprentice Training in Kentucky: A Comparison of Union and Non-Union Programs in the Building Trades
"...It is generally acknowledged that many aspects of the construction industry, including apprentice training, are divided according to the labor relations policies of individual employers - whether they are "union" or non-union.""

Kansas and Prevailing Wage Legislation
"Kansas prevailing wage law--the first in the country--was passed in 1891 to help prod the Kansas labor market in general and the construction labor market in particular down a high-skilled, high-wage growth path..."

Prevailing Wage Laws and School Construction Costs
"At the request of the Prince George's County Council, I conducted this analysis of the impact of prevailing wages on public school construction projects. The county council commissioned this study to guide them as they consider the adoption of a bill to require adherence to state prevailing wage rates int he construction of public schools."

Kentucky' Prevailing Wage Law: Its History, Purpose and Effect
"The first federal eight hour day law was enacted on June 25, 1868. It also was the first federal prevailing wage law. The country had just passed through a Civil War that among other things had kick-started massive industrialization across the north and west of the country..."

Prevailing Wage Regulations and School Construction Costs: Evidence from British Columbia
"The stock of public school buildings constructed during the baby boom is aging along with that generation of Americans. Soon much of this building stock will have to be replaced. The financing of this rebuilding of America's schools is an emergent political issue of considerable importance..."

Health Care and Pension Benefits for Construction Workers: The Role of Prevailing Wage Laws
"This article examines the affect of state prevailing wage laws (PWLs) on the amount and mix of wages and benefits paid to construction workers..."

Project Labor Agreements and Competitive Bidding Statutes
"In this comment, I will examine the nature of project labor agreements and the situations where developers, particularly public developers, seek to require adherence to a project labor agreement."

A Comparison of Public School Construction Costs
"Proponents and critics of prevailing wage regulations have debated the merits of these regulations for some time..."

Constructing California: A Review of Project Labor Agreements
"Project labor agreements (PLAs) are arguably the most important change in labor-management relations in the construction industry in recent years. They have become a fairly common part of the organization of major construction projects in California..."

Project Labor Agreements: An Exploratory Study
"Project Labor Agreements (also known as Project Stabilization Agreements), are a form of "pre-hire" collective bargaining agreement negotiated between the owner of a construction project, the construction manager, and the labor unions who represent construction workers."

Evaluating PLA Performance
"Studies find project labor agreements offer many benefits supporters claim."

Labor-Management Group Counters ABC's Anti-PLA Claims
"...Now comes a signatory group that developed its own strategy to promote PLA use. It is the Rhode Island 21st Century Labor Management Partnership in Providence..."

Making Hay When It Rains: The Effect Prevailing Wage Regulations, etc. Have on School Constr. Costs
"Construction is a boom-bust industry with expected and predictable seasonal fluctuations in activity along with expected, but much less predictable, cyclical swings in business. Consequently, contractors and workers alike have come to believe in the adage "make hay while the sun shines...""

Project Labor Agreements: Reliable staffing plans for capital construction projects
"Project Labor Agreements (“PLAs”), which are single-site craft labor agreements used in the construction industry, provide reliable, cost-effective project staffing for capital construction projects."

The Benefits of Implementing a PLA for Construction of the New Kent County Courthouse
"The 21st Century Labor Management Partnership and the Rhode Island building trades submitted this information with exhibits as a response to the Kent County Courthouse Study Committee’s request for information on the benefits of utilizing a project labor agreement for construction of its new courthouse."

What is the Truth on PLAs?
"The following is a follow up to our testimony before the Study Committee researching the feasibility of a PLA for construction of the Kent County courthouse..."

A Preliminary Report on Associated Builders & Contractors Apprenticeship Training
"The construction industry is built upon a foundation of skilled craftsmanship. These skills, primarily supplied through apprenticeship and training programs, are critical to the supply of skilled workers, the safety of construction sites, and the reliability of our nation's offices, roads, and homes..."

Wages, Productivity and Highway Construction Costs: Updated Analysis 1994-2002
"Over the years there have been various pronouncements of the cost savings that would be realized if the Davis-Bacon Act was repealed. These assertions remain unsubstantiated. There is no documentation to support this position..."