Credibility of the Associated Builders and Contractors Called Into Question

WASHINGTON, DC – A panelist who formally appeared with other representatives from the Associated Builders and Contractors during a conference on Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) held at Michigan State University openly admitted that PLAs can be “a good thing.”

Frank Mamat, an Attorney with Foster, Swift, Collins and Smith, PC, located in Michigan, appeared on a panel titled, “The Open Shop’s Views on PLAs” at the Understanding PLAs Conference held October 12th at Michigan State University.  The conference was jointly sponsored by the School of Labor & Industrial Relations and the School of Planning, Design & Construction.  The conference was attended by over 100 construction users, contractors, academic experts, and others.  It featured presentations by prominent construction project managers; construction owners; and academic researchers with expertise on the subject of PLAs.

During his presentation, Mr. Mamat incurred the discomfort of his fellow panelists when he related to how the construction of a project on which he was involved, and which utilized a project labor agreement (that resulted in both union and non-union contractors gaining work) caused him to believe that PLAs can “be a good thing.”  Mr. Mamat even went so far as to publicly praise the local Building and Construction Trades Council involved on this job for its efforts to work with the construction owner and contractors to ensure a level of productivity and skilled manpower that resulted in an on-time, on-budget delivery of this casino.

This is just one more example of how the ABC’s opposition to PLAs is rooted more in philosophical spin than it is in the actual realities of the construction marketplace – where increasing numbers of public and private entities are choosing the PLA model represented by increased jobsite efficiencies; a safe, skilled and productive workforce; and opportunities for career training for local residents…over a “race to the bottom” business model predicated upon assembling a low-wage, low-skill, oftentimes vulnerable and exploitable workforce no matter the collateral damage it does to workers, their families and whole communities.