AGC Calls on President to Protect Career Contracting Officers from Political Pressure to Require PLAs

AGC called on the president to send an "unmistakable and public" message that political appointees are not to cross the line between politics and procurement. AGC urged President Obama to tell his staff to leave career contracting officers free to evaluate whether it is in the taxpayers' interest to mandate project labor agreements for the construction of federal projects. Such agreements are typically between general construction contractors and the unions representing construction craft workers. AGC pointed out that government mandates for PLAs are controversial because they disadvantage contractors who work without union agreements.  They also disrupt the collective bargaining over the area-wide agreements that would otherwise apply to work in a particular city, county or other area. Read AGC's letter here. For more information, contact Denise Gold at (703) 837-5326 or goldd@agc.org.