Before taking the oath of office, the incoming liberal majority on the Prince George’s County Council made their stance known: Labor, they wrote to Prince George County’s top leaders, would have a seat at the table when the county built new schools funded through a hybrid method.
The position riled people who have been working for years to address overcrowding and inadequate school structures by building new campuses, funded through a hybrid of public and private money. It also has sparked fears among business owners and county leaders who say requiring union involvement will disadvantage Black businesses already struggling to secure major contracts with the county.
At issue is what’s known as a project labor agreement, a negotiation that sets the terms for employment on a construction project. The legal tool, which has roots in collective bargaining during an era when union labor was more robust, emerged in public contracting during the 1930s. Proponents say the agreements ensure continuity in complex projects and prevent labor conflicts, while critics say they increase costs and prolong project completion. President Barack Obama in 2009 issued an order requiring their use in large-scale federal projects, a stance President Biden affirmed in an executive order issued last February.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Lateshia Beachum over at The Washington Post