Pres. Jackson: “This bill marks a step forward for workplace safety, assurance and reliability.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2019
AUGUSTA- The Maine Senate approved a bill from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, to allow public authorities to commit to Project Labor Agreements in public works projects an initial vote of 21-13 on Wednesday. The bill – LD 1564, “An Act To Authorize Project Labor Agreements for Public Works Projects” – gives public authorities complete discretion to determine when to enter a Project Labor Agreement on a project-by-project basis.
“Project Labor Agreements represent a win-win for the workers on state projects and the state itself. Not only do PLAs provide uniform wages, benefits, and working conditions, but they also ensure the project will be completed on time and on budget,” said President Jackson. “This bill marks a step forward for workplace safety, assurance and reliability. I’m hopeful the House will join the Senate in passing this bill.”
Pre-agreements help ensure that public works projects are finished in a timely manner, remain on a budget, improve safety and reduce risks of worker misclassification. A pre-agreement can be constructed with a union or private entity. Project Labor Agreements can also include provisions to secure much-needed apprenticeships in the trades. These agreements often include training programs for women, minorities and veterans.
Due to the benefits of Project Labor Agreements, many private sector companies also choose to enter into them. Two high-profile examples include Toyota and Wal-Mart, which have used these agreements for multiple projects.
LD 1564 is supported by the Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council and the Maine AFL-CIO. It will now go before the House for additional votes before returning to the Senate for enactment.