A growing coalition of Maryland construction and business groups is pushing back against a union-only Project Labor Agreement (PLA) tied to the Maryland Transportation Authority’s plan to build new ramps on the I-95/I-695 interchange in Baltimore County.
The groups — including the Maryland chapters of the Associated Builders and Contractors, the Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association, the Independent Electrical Contractors, and the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce — argue that the PLA unfairly shuts out most of Maryland’s construction workforce. Nearly 90 percent of Maryland construction workers are not union members, meaning they could be excluded unless they agree to operate under union rules.
Opponents say the state’s approach violates the dictates of Governor Wes Moore’s Executive Order 01.01.2024.18, which requires case-by-case proof that a PLA will reduce costs or improve quality. They also warn the policy could make it “mathematically impossible” to meet Maryland’s Minority- and Veteran-Owned Business participation goals, since most certified firms are open-shop contractors.
The controversy comes just months after a Pennsylvania court blocked a similar union-only agreement, ruling that such contracts limited fair competition. Maryland’s own courts have previously questioned the legality of PLAs, calling them “potentially invalid” if they disadvantage non-union bidders.
Coalition leaders say they support strong wages, safety, and local hiring, but believe those goals can be achieved “without forcing every contractor to sign a union agreement.” They’ve asked the state to withdraw the PLA and rebid the project under open and competitive terms that give all Maryland workers and businesses a fair shot.