Project Labor Agreements
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One thing every single Democrat needs to get behind are project labor agreements, which mean that union labor is used for building state projects. This exists in Rhode Island and provides a lot of great jobs for building trades members. It also means that the Laborers are the most powerful union in the state, which isn’t always the most wonderful thing considering some of the politics and mentality of that union vis-a-vis other unions. But it does means unions have a place at the table throughout the state. This only helps the Democratic Party and yet you have dingbat governors such as Jared Polis in Colorado who think being a Democrat means meditating and smoking weed and hanging out with RFK.
Oregon construction firms say an order by Gov. Tina Kotek last year mandating union labor in many state projects amounts to an illegal power grab. Now they’re asking a judge to step in.
Last week, a coalition of contractor associations and more than a dozen individual construction firms sued Kotek in Marion County Circuit Court, arguing she has overstepped her authority.
They’re seeking a freeze on the directive while they make the case that Kotek cannot make the changes she seeks without legislative authority or necessary rulemaking by state agencies.
Kotek’s executive order “is an unconstitutional exercise of power by the Governor,” the suit says. “Under the Oregon Constitution, the Governor is not vested with the power to make law, regardless of the policy objective.”
Kotek’s office declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
The order at the heart of the case requires state agencies to use tools known as “project labor agreements” in state construction projects where onsite labor costs makeup at least 15% of the cost.
PLAs, as they are known, are contracts between a project owner – like the state – and one or more labor unions that will be providing workers.
The particulars vary, but PLAs lay out the working conditions for the entire project, including provisions on hourly pay and benefits. There’s often a guarantee there will be no strikes by unions or lockouts by employers. Some deals include requirements to use a target number of apprentices or to work with minority-owned businesses – a feature Kotek has argued will ensure the state is supporting disadvantaged communities.
But the central feature of the agreements – that they require union participation in projects – is controversial.
I don’t quite know the legal grounds this can stand on given that PLAs exist is several other states. But it’s not as if judges need actual law to just rule however they want if they care enough about the issue.