Signed by Governor Janet Mills

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes project labor agreements for public work projects.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a public authority to require a project labor agreement for any public works project when that public authority has determined that it is in the public’s interest to require an agreement (Sec. 2).

• Requires the public authority to consider the effects a project labor agreement may have on the following (Sec. 2):

• The efficiency, cost, and direct and indirect economic benefits to the public authority;

• The availability of a skilled workforce to complete the public works project;

• The prevention of construction delays;

• The safety and quality of the public works project;

• The advancement of minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses; and

• Employment opportunities for the community.

• Requires a project labor agreement required by a public authority to do the following (Sec. 2):

• Set forth mutually binding procedures for resolving disputes that can be implemented without delay; 

• Include guarantees against a strike, lockout or other concerted action aimed at slowing or stopping the progress of the public works project;

• Ensure a reliable source of skilled and experienced labor;

• Include goals for the number of apprentices and for a percentage of work to be performed by minorities, women and veterans;

• Provide for the invitation of all contractors to bid on the public works project without regard to whether the employees of any such contractor are members of a labor organization;

• Permit the selection of the lowest responsible qualified bidder without regard to labor organization affiliation; and

• Bind all contractors and subcontractors to the terms of the agreement.

• Prohibits a project labor agreement required by a public authority pursuant to this section from requiring compulsory labor organization membership of employees working on the public works project (Sec. 2),

• Specifies that a bidder for a public work’s project that does not agree to abide by the conditions of the project labor agreement or a requirement to negotiate a project labor agreement may not be regarded as a responsible qualified bidder for the project (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes project labor agreements for public work projects.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a public authority to require a project labor agreement for any public works project when that public authority has determined that it is in the public’s interest to require an agreement (Sec. 2).

• Requires the public authority to consider the effects a project labor agreement may have on the following (Sec. 2):

• The efficiency, cost, and direct and indirect economic benefits to the public authority;

• The availability of a skilled workforce to complete the public works project;

• The prevention of construction delays;

• The safety and quality of the public works project;

• The advancement of minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses; and

• Employment opportunities for the community.

• Requires a project labor agreement required by a public authority to do the following (Sec. 2):

• Set forth mutually binding procedures for resolving disputes that can be implemented without delay; 

• Include guarantees against a strike, lockout or other concerted action aimed at slowing or stopping the progress of the public works project;

• Ensure a reliable source of skilled and experienced labor;

• Include goals for the number of apprentices and for a percentage of work to be performed by minorities, women and veterans;

• Provide for the invitation of all contractors to bid on the public works project without regard to whether the employees of any such contractor are members of a labor organization;

• Permit the selection of the lowest responsible qualified bidder without regard to labor organization affiliation; and

• Bind all contractors and subcontractors to the terms of the agreement.

• Prohibits a project labor agreement required by a public authority pursuant to this section from requiring compulsory labor organization membership of employees working on the public works project (Sec. 2),

• Specifies that a bidder for a public work’s project that does not agree to abide by the conditions of the project labor agreement or a requirement to negotiate a project labor agreement may not be regarded as a responsible qualified bidder for the project (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text