Md4Fairness.org
The Board of Estimates last Wednesday (1/7) unanimously approved Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on the rehab of four pumping stations. Members of the Maryland Coalition for Fairness and Open Competition, a group ABC formed more than two years ago, showed up in force, testified and lobbied, all the while knowing the deck was stacked against us. As of this date, we are weighing our next moves, including that of taking legal action. Stay tuned.
For more information, contact Mike Henderson 443-955-1500
What the City Says v What the PLA Actually Does
| What the City Says | What the PLA Actually does |
| “All contractors can bid.” | Contractors may technically bid, but any contractor that wins must sign a mandatory Letter of Assent agreeing to operate under union rules. Many local contractors choose not to bid at all because compliance is costly and disruptive. |
| “This is not a union-only project.” | While workers are not forced to “join a union,” contractors must run the job as a union project — using union work rules, hiring systems, benefit plans, and arbitration processes. |
| “PLAs ensure labor peace and no strikes.” | Labor peace is already the norm in Maryland. This is a specious guarantee |
| “The PLA promotes local hiring.” | Local hiring goals exist, but union hiring halls control referrals, not contractors. Many local nonunion workers are not in union referral systems, limiting actual local participation. |
| “The PLA expands apprenticeship opportunities.” | Only union or union-aligned, government-approved apprenticeship programs qualify. Many effective nonunion training pipelines are excluded, narrowing access rather than expanding it. |
| “Minority- and women-owned businesses are protected.” | Most MBEs/WBEs in Baltimore are open-shop. PLA compliance requirements discourage or prevent meaningful participation, often limiting these firms to small subcontracts instead of prime roles. |
| “PLAs help control costs and deliver projects on time.” | By reducing competition and increasing compliance costs, PLAs have historically led to higher bids and delays in Baltimore and across Maryland |
| “Contractors keep control of their workforce.” | Contractors must seek workers through union hiring halls first, follow union jurisdiction rules, and resolve disputes through union arbitration — reducing contractor flexibility and control. |
| “Prevailing wage already applies, so costs won’t change.” | The PLA requires paying the higher of prevailing wage or union wage + benefits, often forcing nonunion contractors to pay into union benefit plans while still funding their own, raising costs |
| “This is a limited, project-specific agreement.” | The Letter of Assent binds contractors and all subcontractors to the PLA and multiple union agreements, with jobsite access conditioned on full compliance throughout the project. |
| “This approach builds capacity in Baltimore’s workforce.” | By excluding most local contractors and workers from participation, the PLA shrinks the pool of firms gaining experience on major City projects, undermining long-term workforce capacity. |
The Baltimore Coalition for Fairness and Open Competition is a Maryland-based group dedicated to advocating against the use of mandated PLAs on taxpayer funded public works projects that steer contracts to union-signatory contractors, granting union workers a monopoly on jobs and contracts, as well as, raising taxpayer costs. We are committed to bringing transparency to the dangers of this policy and ensuring all workers get fair opportunities at crucial state taxpayer funded projects.
The coalition includes the following member organizations: Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Chesapeake Shores, Greater Baltimore, Cumberland Valley and Metro Washington chapters; the Maryland Transportation Builders & Materials; the Maryland Minority Contractors Association; the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Independent Electrical Contractors-Chesapeake.
The coalition also includes the following local firms: C.L. Myles Contracting; D&T Welding Contractor; Elite 360 Contracting; IronShore Contracting; LJW Zero Waste; M. Luis Construction Co.; Mahogany, Inc.; Positive Pressure; R. E. Harrington Utilities; Southway Builders; Workbridge
The Baltimore Coalition is a part of The Maryland Coalition for Fairness and Open Competition