Tell Governor Youngkin and Virginia Lawmakers
Keep Virginia’s Future Bright Keep PLA Mandates Out of Our State
Create Jobs for Virginians
Virginia residents deserve the first chance at local construction contracts, yet government-mandated project labor agreements would take away opportunities from 95% of Virginia’s construction workforce who choose not to join a union. Hiring locally supports our state’s economy, feeds our families, and helps our communities thrive. Let’s build a more beautiful commonwealth with Virginians—not out-of-state contractors and workers.
Support Small, Women, and Minority Businesses
Steering taxpayer-funded contracts to large, out-of-state contractors takes opportunities away from local small business and their employees. Government-mandated project labor agreements and prevailing wage requirements hurt these entrepreneurs and stifle local competition. We have the power to support small, women and minority contractors, but only if we give local projects to local businesses.
Save Taxpayers Money
Government-mandated project labor agreements stifle competition from local firms and workers and increase the cost of taxpayer-funded construction by 12% to 20%. If PLAs are mandated, Virginians will foot the bill—with higher taxes, fewer jobs and reduced investments in the schools, roads and affordable housing that keep Virginia economically competitive.
Virginia Loves Local Labor
Learn More With These Resources and Links
SUPPORTING RESEARCH
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Arguments Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements on State and Local Taxpayer-Funded Construction Projects in Virginia (February 2024)
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Study Finds Los Angeles PLA Mandate Delivered Fewer Affordable Housing Projects and Increase Construction Costs 14.5% (October 2021)
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Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements Result in Lost and Stolen Wages for Employees and Excessive Costs and Liability Exposure for Employers (October 2021)
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Study Finds Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements Increase Connecticut School Construction Costs by 19.8% (February 2020)
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Study Finds Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements Increase New Jersey School Construction Costs by 16.25% (August 2019)
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Study Finds Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements Increase Ohio School Construction Costs by 13.12% (August 2017)
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Construction Union Donations to Virginia Lawmakers and PACS for 2020 to 2021 Cycle (February 2023)
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Construction Labor Union Political Donations to Virginia State Lawmakers, 2018-2019 Cycle
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Read SB 182 / HB 358, legislation permitting government-mandated project labor agreements on state and local public works construction projects
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Read SB 8 / HB 833, legislation requiring prevailing wage regulations on state construction projects exceeding $250,000 and permits local governments to require prevailing wage regulations on local public works construction projects
MEDIA
- February 8, 2023, Loudoun Times-Mirror article, “Project labor agreements would not benefit Loudoun, study finds”
- May 6, 2021 op-ed in The Washington Post, "Opinion: Fairfax should put its taxpayers and workers first”
- April 9,2020 op-ed in The Washington Post, "Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam can put the commonwealth’s contractors and taxpayers first”
- April 9, 2020 letter to the editor in the Richmond Times Dispatch, "Legislation might hurt small construction firms”
- March 17, 2020 letter from the National Black Chamber of Commerce asking Gov. Northam to veto SB 182/HB 358 and SB 8/HB 833
- Feb. 27, 2020 op-ed in the Roanoke Times, “Braunlich: Raising the price on school and road construction”
- Feb. 19, 2020 op-ed in Bacon’s Rebellion, “Non-Union Construction Workers Need Not Apply”
- Feb. 12, 2020 op-ed in The Virginian Pilot, "Legislation could raise public costs of building projects"