NJBCTC PRESIDENT STATEMENT PLA EXPANSION EFFORT BECOMING LAW
NJBCTC PRESIDENT STATEMENT PLA EXPANSION EFFORT BECOMING LAW
CLARK —– William T. Mullen, President of the New Jersey Building & Construction Trades Council
today released the following statement on a measure to expand the use of Project Labor Agreements
(S3414/A5378) being signed into law:
“Friday was a great day for all the hard-working men and women of the building trades. Opportunities to secure union jobs provide a pathway to the middle class for tens of thousands of New Jersey residents and ensure the next generation of construction workers remain the best trained, equipped, and safest workforce.”
“Senate President Sweeney has been the Champion of both the original PLA Bill and this expansion. We want to commend the hard work, dedication and sheer tenacity of Senate President Steve Sweeney who led this 20-year effort to steer this legislation to the Governor’s desk and we certainly want to thank Governor Phil Murphy for signing into law.”
“Along with Senate President Steve Sweeney we thank Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and our own trusted Building Trades Legislators; Assemblyman Egan, Assemblyman DeAngelo, Assemblyman Verrelli, Assemblyman Houghtaling and Senator Singleton were especially critical in making this law a reality. All of these policymakers made the economic stability and security of New Jersey families a priority by being strong, vocal proponents of the law. We, along with all New Jerseyans, are grateful for their commitment to important workforce issues.”
Background on Project Labor Agreements (PLA)
The existing Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Act permits public entities to enter into PLAs for building-based projects over $5 million. Under the new law, public entities will be allowed to enter project labor agreements for any public works project that is subject to the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act and that will cost $5 million or more, including highways, bridge pumping stations, water, and sewage treatment plant projects. The new law also includes provisions to promote workforce diversity in public works projects.
