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Jan 313 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...
14 views


Nov 20, 20243 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...
31 views

Nov 16, 20244 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...
22 views


Nov 14, 20242 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,...
18 views

Oct 24, 20249 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,...
6 views

Sep 4, 20242 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.
23 views

Aug 1, 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...
23 views

Jul 24, 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.
24 views


Jul 11, 20243 min read
A State Mandate on Apprenticeships Would Violate Federal Law
An apprenticeship mandate on public projects would run afoul of federal law.
17 views

Jun 26, 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...
39 views

May 29, 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...
45 views


May 16, 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...
238 views

Apr 25, 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...
56 views


Feb 23, 20241 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...
43 views

Feb 19, 20243 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...
18 views

Jan 23, 20244 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...
35 views

Jan 22, 20242 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...
43 views

Dec 14, 20233 min read
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...
145 views

Nov 21, 20232 min read
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, 20233 min read
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
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