Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) introduced legislation Monday that would require full disclosure of contractual terms, known as project labor agreements (PLAs), for construction projects funded by taxpayer dollars.
PLAs are pre-hire agreements which, under existing law, include labor terms and conditions for construction projects. They often incorporate terms from collective bargaining agreements of unions to be involved in the project.
“PLAs often increase the labor costs on a job, so it is problematic when we can’t see the full scope of the project up front,” Bernstine said. “When a contractor is crafting a bid for a public project, it is only fair to make them aware of agreements that would impact the cost of construction.”
Bernstine’s bill, the Project Labor Agreement Transparency Act, would require a public body to post advanced notice when a PLA applies to a public construction project. The legislation would not restrict the use of PLA’s or regulate the contents of the agreement.
Bernstine noted that he hopes to accomplish enhanced transparency through the introduction of legislation.
“This is very simply about fairness and openness in the contracting process,” Bernstine said. “The taxpayers who are funding these projects and the laborers who hope to bid on the work deserve full transparency.”