Defense Dept. Requires Its First Ever PLA

by | Jan 19, 2012 | Labor Relations Ink

The U.S. Navy will require its first project labor agreement (PLA) for construction of a $715M explosive handling wharf in Washington state.  This is the Defense Department’s first PLA since President Obama issued an executive order one month into his presidency that strongly encouraged all federal agencies to require union labor on all projects over $25M.  Without explanation or proof, defenders of the Navy’s PLA mandate say a unionized workforce ensures efficient, timely and cost-effective completion. The Olympic Peninsula Building and Construction Trades Council had successfully called upon Democrats Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Reps. Norm Dicks and Jay Inslee to appeal to the Defense Department for a PLA.  All four have received significant campaign donations from the Building Trades Council. 84% of Washington’s private construction workforce is non-union.  Those hired onto the Navy’s project would be required not only to pay dues, but to pay into underfunded union pension plans with little hope of working long enough to be vested.

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