AGC-Backed Legislation Opposing Government Mandated PLAs Introduced in Senate

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) recently introduced the “Government Neutrality in Contracting Act” (S. 71) in the Senate. This legislation would prohibit federal contracting agencies from mandating that contractors and unions enter project labor agreements (PLAs) on direct federal projects. In addition, the bill would preserve the right of contractors and unions to voluntarily negotiate and execute project labor agreements on federal projects, if they so choose. This AGC-supported legislation falls directly in line with the association’s position on such government mandated PLAs. Specifically, AGC neither supports nor opposes contractors’ voluntary use of PLAs on government projects, but strongly opposes any government mandate for contractors’ use of PLAs. AGC is committed to free and open competition for publicly funded work, and believes that the lawful labor relations policies and practices of private construction contractors should not be a factor in a government agency’s selection process. Visit AGC’s Legislative Action Center to write to your Senators urging their support of this legislation. AGC is working with members of the House to introduce the same bill in that chamber. For more information, please contact Jimmy Christianson at (703) 837-5325 or christiansonj@agc.org.