Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Senate sends project labor agreement bill to the House

  • by Keith M. Phaneuf
  • May 3, 2012
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

The state Senate overwhelmingly approved a measure late Wednesday guaranteeing communities can negotiate working conditions with labor unions before public projects are put out to bid.

The measure allowing so-called “project labor agreements,” spurred in part by a legal battle over school construction work in Hartford, passed 32-3 and now heads to the House of Representatives.

“It’s one of the only vehicles in the construction industry that can create local employment and local support,” Ed Reilly, president of the Hartford Building Trades Council, said after the vote.

The legislation allows — but does not require — municipalities to negotiate with unions and set the terms and conditions of public projects before any bids are awarded. It stipulates that companies unwilling to accept the terms of a project labor agreement, or PLA, are deemed ineligible for a contract award.

These agreements enable cities and towns to ensure that public dollars provide construction jobs for local residents, minorities, veterans or any other groups agreed upon in negotiations, added David Roche, president of the Connecticut Building Trades Council. PLA’s also can be used to ensure minimum standards are set for other benefits and working conditions.

Tuesday’s debate came four months after the state Supreme Court ruled Electrical Contractors Inc. could challenge a PLA reached between Hartford and construction trades on grounds that they violate the state antitrust laws. The firm, which won bids to work on two city schools but challenged the city’s right to enforce a PLA, originally lost at the Superior Court level.

The measure enjoyed strong bipartisan support in the Senate, and lawmakers from both parties said keeping such agreements optional was key.

“It’s done only if it’s in the community’s best interests,” said Sen. Edith G. Prague, D-Columbia, co-chairwoman of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.

Another supporter, Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, said project labor agreements “have become one of the hot topics” of debate in his town, “but there’s nothing coercive about the legislation.”

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who was mayor of Stamford from 1995 through 2009, issued a statement supporting the legislation shortly after the Senate debate closed.

“At a time when too many people in our state are still searching for gainful employment, project labor agreements ensure that we have the best trained workforce in place for our more important projects,” the governor wrote. “Contrary to some of the assertions opponents of project labor agreements make, this is not another unfunded government mandate.  All this bill does is give municipalities the option of entering into a project labor agreement if they choose to do so, without the added risk of costly litigation.  It’s just a common sense measure, one that will ensure that the hardworking men and women in the building trades can find employment that will support their families.”

Sen. Joseph Markley, R-Southington, one of three Republicans in the Democratic-controlled Senate who voted against the bill, said he fears such agreements will drive up municipal construction costs while Connecticut’s economy continues to struggle.

“The more qualified companies that are eligible to bid on a job, the better deal towns are likely to get,” he said, adding that companies’ reluctance to deal with these agreements will lead some to pass on projects connected with them. “It’s hard enough for towns to save money right now.”

 

VOTING SUMMARY

Democrats: 21 yes, 0 no, 1 absent. Republicans: 11 yes, 3 no, 0 absent.

 

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keith M. Phaneuf

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
House Democratic leaders want to repeal CT’s ‘poverty tax’
by Keith M. Phaneuf

House Democratic leaders want to effectively end Connecticut’s longstanding practice of placing liens on the homes of former welfare recipients.

Is the state’s vaccine rollout leaving behind Black and Latino residents?
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, Kasturi Pananjady and Jenna Carlesso

Rolling out the COVID vaccine to older residents first means it's more likely to go to white residents first.

Education is the cornerstone of democracy
by John J. Petillo

The events of January 6 represent an inflection point for our democracy and, in truth, for our concept of civil society. Much has already been written about the political and cultural tides that swept our nation toward these events —and a real understanding of their significance will not be possible for some time, in part because the reactions and responses to these events are still unfolding as I write.

A rebuttal to ‘A call to save arms’
by Tyler David Gavitt

A response to "A call to save arms: is vaccination really the solution?" published January 25: The aforementioned article, written by Genevieve Diamant, stands to do potentially significant damage to the efforts by the citizens and government of the State of Connecticut to bring under control the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Holocaust, history and today’s politics
by Avinoam Patt and Laura Hilton

On January 6 the world watched as domestic terrorists stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC.  The pictures seared into our memories of this day are replete with symbols of hatred, racism, and extremism: The Confederate battle flag, the white power hand gesture, and the gallows erected near the Capitol reflecting pool. What many may not have noticed within this sea of white supremacy was the prominence of anti-Semitic images.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Education is the cornerstone of democracy
by John J. Petillo

The events of January 6 represent an inflection point for our democracy and, in truth, for our concept of civil society. Much has already been written about the political and cultural tides that swept our nation toward these events —and a real understanding of their significance will not be possible for some time, in part because the reactions and responses to these events are still unfolding as I write.

Opinion A rebuttal to ‘A call to save arms’
by Tyler David Gavitt

A response to "A call to save arms: is vaccination really the solution?" published January 25: The aforementioned article, written by Genevieve Diamant, stands to do potentially significant damage to the efforts by the citizens and government of the State of Connecticut to bring under control the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opinion The Holocaust, history and today’s politics
by Avinoam Patt and Laura Hilton

On January 6 the world watched as domestic terrorists stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC.  The pictures seared into our memories of this day are replete with symbols of hatred, racism, and extremism: The Confederate battle flag, the white power hand gesture, and the gallows erected near the Capitol reflecting pool. What many may not have noticed within this sea of white supremacy was the prominence of anti-Semitic images.

Opinion Sticker shock
by Eric W. Kuhn

It would award a modest amount to families making less than $203k in the first year of the program, ramping up to as much as $1,800 in year four. On a sliding scale, the money would also go to families making up to $682,000 a year. Really? That's 8.7 times the median household income in America.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO