Biden Administration’s Misguided PLA Mandate A Hand-Out to Unionized Contractors

IEC Urges Congress to Pass the Fair and Open Competition Act

Arlington, VA, December 18, 2023 – The following is a statement by the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) objecting to today’s release of the Biden administration’s final rules implementing the executive order that requires the use of project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects valued over $35 million.

“Limiting federal construction projects to unionized contractors is the wrong approach to providing the taxpayer the best value for their hard-earned dollars,” said Thayer Long, IEC Executive Director. “During a time of significant inflation and ongoing worker shortages, the last thing the administration should be doing is restricting competition and discriminating against the 88 percent of the industry that chooses not to join a union.”

In response, IEC calls on Congress to immediately pass the Fair and Open Competition Act (H.R.1209/ S.537), which would eliminate all mandates and preferences for project labor agreements on federal construction projects.

IEC is committed to advocating on behalf of the merit shop electrical contracting industry before Congress and the executive branch. Learn more about IEC’s initiatives at ieci.org/advocacy.

ABOUT IEC

Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) is a nonprofit trade association federation with 53 educational campuses and affiliate local chapters across the country. IEC represents more than 3,600 member businesses that employ over 100,000 electrical and systems workers throughout the United States. The association educates nearly 16,000 electricians and systems professionals each year through world-class training programs. IEC contractor member companies are some of the premier firms in the industry and are responsible for over $10B in gross revenue annually. For more information, go to www.ieci.org.

PRESS CONTACT

Mikayla Hrinowich | Publicist | mhrinowich@ieci.org