By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

Gov. Wes Moore recently delivered good news for union workers throughout Maryland.

On Nov. 17, Moore and Secretary of State Susan C. Lee joined numerous union workers at the Maryland Transportation Administration (MTA) Eastern Bus Division in East Baltimore to announce and sign a workforce development executive order. The order became effective immediately.

“I am proud that I will sign an executive order authorizing the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) and Community Benefit Agreements for large-scale public works projects,” said Moore. “This executive order will help ensure critical public works and infrastructure projects are done both on time and on budget. It means we are going to save taxpayer dollars.”

“This executive order will help to ensure that we’re building opportunities for strong careers and pathways other than a four-year college degree and ensure that we benefit from the millions of dollars in new federal investments. Those projects will be built by union hands,” continued Moore.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, PLAs are joint pre-hire bargaining agreements between unions and contractors, establishing employment terms and conditions for construction projects.

The order permits a state government unit to require PLAs and community benefits agreements for projects where the state’s commitment is at least $20 million, though executive units are not required to use PLAs.

The order also requires that PLAs include a diversity plan.

“PLA projects must also include diversity and outreach plans to ensure that disadvantaged communities can gain access to employment and also access to contracts,” said Moore.

In 2022, about 13 percent of working Marylanders are represented by unions according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Black people are more likely to join a union than other ethnic and racial groups countrywide.

Moore announced that the Department of Transportation has already identified nine projects as candidates for PLAs, including the Baltimore Red Line, projects at the BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and the MTA Eastern Bus Division facility.

Work, wages and wealth are a prime focus of his administration.

“The infrastructure challenges in the next decade will be complex. These jobs won’t be easy,” said Greg Ackerman, president of the Baltimore-D.C. Metro Building Trades Council, at the signing. “Which is why we have to come together and be sure that our force is adequately trained. We have to commit to building infrastructure that our kids and grandkids will be proud of 10 years from now.”

The Baltimore-D.C. Metro Building Trades Council represents 28 local unions and more than 30,000 members.

Comptroller Brooke Lierman said state procurement is a crucial economic driver in Maryland.

“We know that when we spend our tax dollars through state procurements. We have to do it in a way that is not just erecting and building structures but is creating communities and jobs that are family-supported,” said Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman at the signing. “That’s why we have to be working with our brothers and sisters in labor.”

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