Rally Against Congressman Frank Wolf's Attack on a Virginia Working Families PLA

Washington, DC -- Because of the success of Phase 1 of the Dulles Metrorail Project, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Board passed a resolution by an 11-2 vote requiring a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) to be enacted on Phase 2.

It's no wonder that the National Heavy & Highway Coalition is baffled by Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf's (R) decision to attack working families by staging a press conference to try and pressure MWAA to reverse its overwhelming support for the PLA.

The community is better served by jobs that provide family-supporting wages. PLAs encourage attracting and training local workers. That results in higher quality work and also saves taxpayers money in the form of reduced costs for public health care and caring for pension-less retirees.

"Requiring a PLA is simply a smart business decision. The project is one of the biggest rail projects in the country and it's on time and on budget with an unbelievable safety record. PLAs allow for both union, non-union and minority contractors to competitively bid for all work associated with this project. The labor costs for this project are covered by the prevailing wage so the cost for union or non-union labor will be the same by law," said National Heavy & Highway Coalition Executive Director Rick Porter.

The positive impact these projects have on communities take years to fully measure, but workers who earn a family-supporting wage, family health care benefits and retirement savings are able to contribute to their communities immediately.

James Jackson, Jr., has seen the difference that working on a job with a PLA makes in the lives of families. "Because of the job I have with the union, I've been able to buy a house, provide for my children, and even save some money for college," said Jackson. "I know the training I've received makes a big difference in the quality of work I perform. In addition to the good wages and benefits I receive, I enjoy going to a worksite where I know I'll be respected and treated fairly."

"Safety is our number one priority on any job site, and having skilled, qualified workers is the key to having a superior safety record, which goes hand in hand with being able to keep the project on time and within budget. PLAs are a major factor in ensuring this," said BMW Cleaning Solutions President Wyatt Watson.

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The National Heavy & Highway Coalition works with contractors all over the country to place the union bidder in the best competitive bidding position it can. The Coalition consists of the International Unions of the Laborers', Ironworkers, Cement Masons, Teamsters, Painters, and Bricklayers. It works hand-in-hand in obtaining heavy and highway work with the National Construction Alliance II, which consists of the Operating Engineers and Carpenters. Jointly, these eight crafts work under the Heavy & Highway Agreement wherever it is approved.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• PLA
• Construction
• Jobs
• NHHA
• Workers
• Labor
• Virginia
• Recesssion
• Training
• Employment
• Safety
• LiUNA
• Laborers
• Malaborers