During his first month in office, President Obama issued an executive order encouraging agencies to require the use of project labor agreements (PLAs) on large-scale construction projects. Today, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR) issued the final rule that implements the order.
Says Mark Ayers, president of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department:
Contrary to claims by those who oppose these agreements—who subscribe to a “race to the bottom” mentality, where success is predicated on the ability to assemble a low-wage, easily exploitable workforce—PLAs have proven over and over that they are a valuable, market-based tool that ensures superior jobsite management, project efficiencies, and workforce productivity and development.
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