ABC

New York City’s outgoing Mayor Eric Adams recently announced two major Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) covering more than $7 billion in city capital projects such as recreation centres, libraries, clean energy systems, water treatment facilities and other infrastructure.

While designed to guarantee fair wages, benefits and set safety rules and training standards, the agreements do not sit well with every labor organization.

They primarily benefit union contractors, shutting out thousands of tradespeople employed by merit shop contractors, claimed Brian Sampson, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Empire State Chapter, which represents the merit shop sector.

Roughly 70 to 80 per cent of all construction in New York City is non-union, with that percentage varying by trade, he said.

“The notion that only union labor can deliver fair standards simply isn’t true and does a disservice to the hardworking non-union workers who help build this city every day.”

Read the full story by Don Procter with the Daily Commercial News here:

New York City PLAs a ‘disservice to the hardworking non-union workers,’ says Sampson