Female, minority workers fear being left out because of project labor agreements (PLAs)
By Kevin Doyle
President Barack Obama’s stimulus package is designed to kick-start the nation’s economy across the board. However, questions are being raised about how equitably it will be applied in regards to construction projects.
According to published reports, nonunion contractors and minority and female workers fear that they could miss out on major construction projects funded by the package because Obama has issued a directive on contracting that favors union labor.
An executive order that Obama signed in February "encourage(s) executive agencies to consider requiring the use of project labor agreements" on federal construction projects of $25 million or more.
PLAs are collective bargaining agreements with labor unions that set the terms and conditions of employment on large construction projects. They typically make unions the bargaining representatives for workers at sites, even though 85 percent of U.S. construction workers aren't union members. They also require nonunion workers to join unions and pay membership dues for the projects' duration.
Because white males dominate the membership of the skilled construction trade unions, however, jobs for minorities and women could be hard to come by on large stimulus-bill projects unless the PLAs set goals for their inclusion.
Source: McClatchy Newspapers