Project Labor Agreements (PLA)

PLAs require construction unions to be the source of all labor for a construction project. PLAs are pre-hire, binding agreements added later as part of the construction contract for the project.

For decades, every Massachusetts PLA has included the following language:

• Union recognition and employment

The Contractor recognizes the union as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative of all craft employees working within the scope of this agreement.

All applicants for various classifications covered under the agreement required by the contractor shall be referred to the contractor by the local union.

According to federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2024 analyzed by unionstats.com, 83.4 percent of the Massachusetts construction workforce chooses not to affiliate with a union.Making it all but impossible for the vast majority of the market to bid means less competition and higher costs.

PLAs are particularly bad for minority contractors, who tend to be smaller and are overwhelmingly open shop.

Articles & Resources

PLA Facts

The Truth About PLA's

Say "No" to Project Labor Agreement Mandates

Wayne J. Griffin Electric vs. Springfield

Editorials

Project Labor Agreements are Bad Policy

Mass Unions Want Exclusive Access to Big Projects. Bad Idea

Healey’s timing on project labor agreements misses the mark