'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.
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- Aug 1
- 2 min
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...
17 views
- Jul 24
- 2 min
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.
20 views
- Jul 12
- 3 min
A State Mandate on Apprenticeships Would Violate Federal Law
An apprenticeship mandate on public projects would run afoul of federal law.
16 views
- Jun 26
- 3 min
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...
37 views
- May 29
- 3 min
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...
45 views
- May 16
- 3 min
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...
212 views
- Apr 25
- 3 min
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...
55 views
- Feb 23
- 1 min
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...
42 views
- Feb 19
- 3 min
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...
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- Jan 23
- 4 min
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...
33 views
- Jan 22
- 2 min
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...
38 views
- Dec 14, 2023
- 3 min
To Create Apprenticeship Opportunity, Reform Restrictive, Arbitrary Ratios
The construction of the new state Holyoke Veterans Home includes a goal to use apprentices for 20 percent of the work hours. This $482...
136 views
- Nov 21, 2023
- 2 min
So Far, Veterans Home Project Missing the Marks on Apprenticeships & Minorities
The Holyoke Veterans Home project is missing the hiring goals for apprentices and minorities, reported the general contractor,...
45 views
- Nov 9, 2023
- 3 min
Union Bullies School After Losing Competitive Bidding
Here’s another difference between merit shops and unions: If a merit shop loses a competitive bid, it won’t send employees to protest....
99 views
- Aug 23, 2023
- 4 min
City Should Drop Proposed Apprentice Rule As Court Has Said Measures Violate Federal Law
MCA today provided testimony to the Standing Committee on Economic Development in the City of Worcester. The committee is considering an...
39 views
- Aug 14, 2023
- 2 min
PLA Impacts Holyoke Veterans Home Project - Not in a Good Way
Low Number of Bidders, Few Minority- and Women-Owned Firms Bid, & Bids Exceed Estimates Today’s ribbon cutting on the Holyoke Veterans...
55 views
- Jun 8, 2023
- 5 min
PLAs Result in Water Shooting Out of Dorm Toilets & 'Shoddy Work' in Mass.
The Joint Committee on State Administration is hearing testimony on legislation to permit project labor agreements on public projects in...
42 views
- Apr 14, 2023
- 2 min
Most Construction Workers Are Merit Shop in Mass. & New England
Merit shop construction workers represented 83.8% of the Massachusetts construction workforce in 2022, according to the Union Membership...
23 views
- Feb 6, 2023
- 1 min
Hiring Promises Gone with the Wind
The MCA always urges people to check the promises made by proponents of project labor agreements. Those hollow promises include wages,...
10 views
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