The Massachusetts Special Commission recently released a report on the use of project labor agreements (PLAs) in road, bridge and rail projects which determined that “PLAs prevent cost-overruns, encourage the timely completion of projects, and avoid potential labor disputes.”

“After an exhaustive review of the facts, the commission’s findings confirm what the evidence has always shown. Project Labor Agreements are a time-tested business tool that has been used successfully in both the private and public sectors to deliver quality construction, on-time and on-budget,” said Frank Callahan, Massachusetts Building Trades Council President.

 

“The commission found PLAs to be particularly beneficial on public infrastructure projects that are large-scale, subject to strict time constraints, involve multiple interdependent phases, and/or may be used to revitalize job creation in the area. Consequently, by prohibiting work-stoppages and encouraging flexible work schedules, PLAs prevent cost-overruns, encourage the timely completion of projects, and avoid potential labor disputes. Furthermore, a provision guaranteeing flexible worker schedules is particularly useful for complex projects which require multiple phases. Additionally, an apprenticeship utilization requirement promotes both job training and creation, particularly for veterans, women, minorities, and low-income individuals.”

In short, PLAs save taxpayers money. Read the entire report here.