Union-Only PLA Information

A project labor agreement (PLA) is "union-only" if it requires construction contractors to agree to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement without regard to the wishes of employees with labor unions as a condition of performing work on a particular construction project.

Typical union-only PLAs require contractors and subcontractors to:

• Recognize unions as representatives of workers on the job without a vote by the employees to accept the union organization
• Use the union hiring hall referral system to obtain workers
• Pay union wages and benefits while workers pay dues and fees to the union
• Obtain apprentices exclusively from union apprenticeship programs
• Obey restrictive and antiquated union work rules, job classifications and arbitration procedures

Union-only PLAs:

• Exclude 85% of private construction workers who choose not to belong to a union
• Effectively exclude open shop or non-union contractors from bidding on construction project contracts
• Drive up the cost of construction projects by reducing competition and implementing the inefficient "union way" of doing business
• Increase construction costs for project owners
• Increase construction costs for taxpayers
• Reduce local employment opportunities for people in the construction industry
• Discriminate against non-union construction workers and businesses
• Especially discriminate against minority- and women-owned businesses who are traditionally not unionized
• Discriminate against minority and women construction craft professionals who are traditionally underrepresented in trade unions
• Are not necessary for or effective at preventing striking labor members (so-called labor peace)
• Do not make a construction project safer
• Do not produce a better quality product
• Are not necessary to complete a project on time and on budget
• Do not save money
• Do not ensure the use of a local workers
• Do not ensure higher quality workers
• Do not guarantee a labor supply
• Are not necessary for large complex construction jobs
• Are not required for federal government contracts
• Have no proven benefits
• Benefit one interest group - construction trade unions

Free and open competition is conducive to production, economic growth and efficient use of limited resources. It is in the public interest, especially when public contracts and tax dollars are concerned, that all qualified and capable contractors and workers are fairly considered.

Union affiliation should not be one of the determining factors in awarding construction contracts. Free and open competition, without a union-only PLA, is the only way to protect public and private interests, stretch scarce construction dollars and maximize product quality.

Put freedom to work and support open competition for all construction jobs. Say "No" to union-only PLAs.