Last week, as Labor Day festivities unfolded, Cleveland's mayor and other key figures made a significant announcement to reshape the city's construction landscape. Mayor Justin M. Bibb, alongside Congresswoman Shontel Brown, joined forces with the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council and various union leaders at the IUOE Local 18 Headquarters. They were there to honor the city's workers and firmly commit to implementing Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on substantial city public improvement endeavors.
To solidify the standard for employment terms on construction projects, Cleveland has decided to mandate PLAs on projects with budgets over $500,000. This policy will enhance project outcomes and foster a more diverse and equitable workforce. "When the city builds big projects, we want to make sure that we're doing it right," Mayor Bibb said in a statement obtained by Cleveland's official website. "PLAs help set the standards for wages, benefits, and working conditions, ensuring that workers in Cleveland are treated with the respect they deserve."
The effectiveness of PLAs is not a new discourse in labor politics. In December 2003, then-Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su announced a similar PLA requirement for major federal construction contracts. This federal movement, revealed in Cleveland, inspired Mayor Bibb's administration to tailor a similar policy locally.
These agreements are multi-faceted, catering to various aspects of the labor process. Dave Wondolowski, speaking on behalf of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, highlighted the benefits, saying, "PLAs boost our workforce through local hiring and recruiting goals. This includes apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship job training programs that establish a pathway to family-sustaining careers in construction." Mayor Bibb also emphasized the agreements' potency, adding that "PLAs are powerful tools that support employment opportunities, open doors for women and people of color, increase transparency and trust, and help us ensure stability, quality and efficiency on major public projects," according to the official announcement.
Incorporating PLAs into Cleveland's construction protocols marks a significant turn in how the city will approach future developments. To render the construction sector more inclusive and fair, Cleveland's leaders set a bar that might resonate well beyond its boundaries. The PLA Executive Order and template document are available on Cleveland's official government website for those looking for more detailed insights into this new policy avenue.
