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Project Labor Agreements PDF Print
Monday, 26 October 2009 12:55

highway workersProject Labor Agreements -- ensure good work or drive up costs? -- Radio Smart Talk -- Tuesday, October 27

 

On the surface, "Project Labor Agreements" sounds like dozens of other government-inspired bureaucratic names that don't say much to the public.

 

 

But to several Republican legislators and some non-union affiliated workers -- PLAs, as they're called -- are the enemy.

 

Listen to the show:

 

 

PLAs are work rules that require state funded construction projects to be awarded to companies that have unionized workers or pay union scale wages. 

 

Those who want to ban PLAs say they jack up the cost of projects to taxpayers and preclude 80% of workers from being considered for jobs.

 

Union officials say the requirements ensure that experienced tradesmen and Pennsylvania residents work on taxpayer-funded projects.

 

What do you think?  Listen to Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk.

 

Guests:

 

Frank Sirianni, President, Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council

 

Jack Zimmer, President and CEO, Associated Builders and Construction, Keystone Chapter

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written by Rob , October 27, 2009, 10:33:08 AM

I'm a taxpayer too, but I understand that my state is benefited when tax-originated wages stay HOME in this Commonwealth, those monies stand a better chance of being spent locally adding secondary and tertiary benefits to our economy.
Now of course this assumes other things being equal.
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written by Donna Reardon , October 27, 2009, 10:43:33 AM

kudos to the caller who put the 2 guests in their place. It's been so confusing this morning. Craig really has his work cut out for him today. Buy that man a drink when this is over!!
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written by Desdemona Katt , October 27, 2009, 11:05:30 AM

Probably the two worst guests to ever clog the airwaves. Those two need to put their battling male egos aside and provide a respectful discourse of their views. Due to their childish quibbling, I got NO information about the issue. Craig should have just turned on a music CD.
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written by Al Greenberg , October 27, 2009, 02:34:37 PM

I think the guests stated their positions and cleared up the "controversy." Now I understand that the non union contractors don't want the state and other public bodies to set the terms or work place conditions for construction workers on taxpayer paid for construction projects.

What I don't get is why anyone, like the state house member who called in, would want to pass a law that limits what taxpayer representatives can do when they are spending taxpayer's money. Why interfere with their right to contract about the way our taxes are spent? I think they should do everything they can to make sure that Pennsylvania businesses and Pennsylvania workers get the taxpayer funded work and they should be able to set conditions that protect our jobs, our businesses and our communities.
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