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Managing Costs Amid Inflation & Tariffs
Construction project managers and owners are nervously watching the cost of construction materials due to increased tariffs on imports. ...
May 133 min read


Merit Shop Employees Continue As Overwhelming Majority of Mass. Construction Workforce
Every late winter, an independent database that tracks union membership in the 50 states releases new numbers for the prior year. The...
Mar 311 min read


Healey-Driscoll Union-Only Order Puts Special Interest Ahead of Public Interest
The Merit Construction Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc., today issued the following statement in response to Executive Order No. 641. “The...
Mar 112 min read


Court Ruling Reveals Fed Agencies Know PLAs Increase Project Costs
A recent federal court ruling striking down project labor agreements on a handful of federal projects contained clear-eyed observations...
Jan 313 min read


State Legalizes Job Discrimination
Today, Governor Maura Healey signed into law the Economic Development bill that includes language permitting (though not requiring) the...
Nov 20, 20243 min read


MCA Urges Gov. Healey to Stand Against Systemic Barriers to Opportunity Wedged in Econ. Dev. & Clean Energy Bills
The Merit Construction Alliance has formally requested Governor Healey wield her veto pen and strike language from two pieces of...
Nov 16, 20244 min read


Union-Only Provisions of Legislation Create Systemic Barriers to Fair & Open Competition for Public Construction
“Political influence, not professional performance, is the prime criterion in doing business with the state”: The Ward Commission Report,...
Nov 14, 20242 min read


Why URI Should Support Fair & Open Competition
MCA submitted the following written testimony to The University of Rhode Island's Project Labor Agreement Technical Review Committee,...
Oct 24, 20249 min read


'That's How We Roll': Merit Shops Never Strike, But Unions Will Despite PLAs & Promises
"That's how we roll" said a union member picketing Vineyard Wind despite a PLA. PLAs are sold as preventing strikes, but they don't.
Sep 5, 20242 min read


PLA Legislation Stalls on Beacon Hill & Apprentice Mandate Fails
Merit Shops Remain Target of Job Discrimination Early this morning, the Legislature failed to pass legislation that expressly allows...
Aug 1, 20242 min read


Healey Housing Office Memo: 'The more bids, or more competition, for a project, the less expensive it would be'
A Healey Administration analysis shows why legislation to lock out merit shops is anti-worker and anti-taxpayer.
Jul 24, 20242 min read


A State Mandate on Apprenticeships Would Violate Federal Law
An apprenticeship mandate on public projects would run afoul of federal law.
Jul 12, 20243 min read


Will MA House Erect Systemic Barrier to MWBEs in Construction?
The MCA sent the following message to the 160 members in the Mass. House of Representatives urging them to reject a proposal to legalize...
Jun 26, 20243 min read


Union 'Hail Mary' Appeal Denied
Organized labor had asked a single justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court to review the lower court order that the Springfield Water...
May 29, 20243 min read


Court Overturns Springfield Project Labor Agreement
A Superior Court judge today issued a preliminary injunction against the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission from proceeding with a...
May 16, 20243 min read


Affected Contractors, Industry Associations File Suit to Stop West Parish Water Treatment PLA
Union-only project labor agreement would add $15.44 million in costs, delay the project 2.4 months, and doesn’t meet strict limits on use...
Apr 25, 20243 min read


Springfield Residents Prepare for $15 Million in Wasteful Spending
Updated: March 13, 2024 Public water customers in Springfield should get ready for a good soaking. The Springfield Water and Sewer...
Feb 23, 20241 min read


PLA Premium: $15.44 Million More for Water Treatment Plant, Engineer Says
First, they ignored their lawyer. Then, they ignored their engineers. The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, by a 2-1 vote, imposed...
Feb 19, 20243 min read


Springfield Ignores Its Lawyer & Moves to Discriminate Against Merit Shops
The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission has voted to discriminate against 83% of the state's construction workforce by locking out...
Jan 23, 20244 min read


State Law & PLAs Do Not Stop Union Strikes
Massachusetts state law makes it illegal for public school teacher unions to strike, and yet it still happens. Meanwhile, trade unions...
Jan 22, 20242 min read
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