In Money-Wasting News, Unions Attempt to Force Illegal PLA on Elementary School Construction
Union members in Carter County are attempting to force Project Labor Agreements on the construction of a new elementary school, against state laws.
Associated General Contractors of Kentucky, which represents about 700 companies, claims the district gave improper preference to union contractors when it signed a project labor agreement with the Tri-State Building and Construction Trades Council for the construction of Tygart Creek Elementary School.
The association filed a suit in Franklin Circuit Court Wednesday asking the court to stop the district from awarding bids under the agreement.
The agreement stifles competition by imposing union rules on contractors who work on the project, according to the suit.
"It excludes 92 percent of Kentucky open-shop contractors," said Richard Vincent, executive vice president of the association. "We will vigorously defend our membership for the right to compete on construction projects."
The agreement requires workers to be union members and requires contractors to hire workers from local union halls and follow union work rules, and that workers receive union wages and benefits and pay union dues and fees, according to the suit.
Not only is it discriminatory, it artificially raises the cost of the construction, wasting Kentucky taxpayer money.
We will keep you updated.
