Sec. 10A-157. Declaration of findings and policy

The County Council recognizes that Project Labor Agreements are craft labor agreements, authorized under federal labor law in accordance with 29 U.S.C. § 158(f), and executed by project contractors and local labor organizations in the building trades, and typically used on large construction projects to establish uniform terms and conditions of employment for the project workforce; and

The County Council further recognizes that Project Labor Agreements are authorized by law as a result of a judicial decision from the United States Supreme Court in the case of Building and Construction Trades Council of the Metropolitan District v. Associated Builders of Contractors of Massachusetts/Rhode Island, Inc., 507 U.S. 218 (1993);

The County Council finds that Prince George's County has a compelling interest in ensuring that County contracts for the construction of County facilities and roads are completed in accordance with project schedules, with the highest degree of quality, and in a cost-effective manner; and

The County Council finds that construction projects present particularly difficult challenges in terms of ensuring timely, cost-effective project delivery and require large numbers of well-trained, highly skilled construction craft personnel in various specific trades and crafts, and successful project delivery can be more effectively promoted by adopting measures that ensure that such projects are properly staffed with adequate numbers of craft workers adequately trained in the respective construction crafts; and

The County Council finds that Project Labor Agreements provide a reliable means for ensuring that construction projects will be adequately staffed with sufficient numbers of highly skilled and properly trained craft personnel and, therefore, such agreements promote the efficient, economical and safe completion of such contracts, and that for this reason alone, the County has a sufficient compelling interest in allowing the use of Project Labor Agreements for construction projects to protect its investments and proprietary interests in such projects; and

The County Council finds that Project Labor Agreements further promote timely, successful project delivery by including legally enforceable guarantees against labor strikes and employer lockouts and also provide procedures to ensure the peaceful, efficient and orderly resolution of labor-management disputes or other disputes or potential disruptions that could otherwise interfere with the execution of construction projects; and

The County Council finds that Project Labor Agreements have a long and extensive history of effectively protecting and promoting the financial investments and proprietary interests of both public and private project owners in the planning, execution and management of major capital facility projects, and have a proven track record of being an effective tool for these purposes; and

The County Council finds that Project Labor Agreements also provide a reliable means for ensuring that construction craft personnel employed on projects are paid appropriate wages as required by law, receive essential construction safety training and are covered by applicable unemployment and workers compensation laws;

The County Council finds that Project Labor Agreements facilitate employment opportunities and apprenticeship and other skill training opportunities for local workers and County residents by utilizing local union training centers, hiring halls and referral systems, which allow more Prince George's County residents to participate in County-funded projects; and

Due to the tough economic times, the County Council finds that unemployment and underemployment are significant challenges in Prince George's County and in an effort to put more Prince George's County residents to work, the County seeks to promote meaningful employment and skill training opportunities for its residents through the use of Project Labor Agreements on construction projects.