Regarding Governor Tina Kotek’s initiative in mandating Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for state-funded building projects, we are reacting to the editorial (Editorial: Merry Christmas, labor unions! Love Gov. Kotek, 12 January.
The editorial purposefully downplays the benefits of the presidential order for construction workers, particularly those from underserved and rural areas. PLAs foster an atmosphere where everyone can prosper by standardizing equitable pay, benefits, and working conditions. This is because union apprenticeship programs have a well-known and shown track record of recruiting and graduating women and workers from disadvantaged communities. These programs teach workers to be ready to get the job done on any construction project. This is about providing high-quality family-wage jobs while safeguarding workers in the construction sector.
