Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and ABC of Michigan celebrated a victory when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upheld a law that banned government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on taxpayer-funded construction projects.
“This landmark decision ends union-based discrimination in the Michigan construction industry and ensures taxpayers get the fiscal accountability they deserve,” said Chris Fisher, president of ABC of Michigan. “This decision has national implications and makes crystal clear that Michigan and other states can pursue equal opportunity in public contracting regardless of labor affiliation.”
Specifically, the appeals court upheld Public Act 238 of 2012, which amended Michigan's Fair and Open Competition in Governmental Construction Act (Public Act 99, 2011). Last year, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District in Michigan enjoined the 2011 law in response to a complaint filed by the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, and the Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee Building and Construction Trade Council, AFL-CIO. Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed Public Act 238 in June 2012 in an effort to amend the initial law and address the court’s concerns.
After the district court enjoined the amended law in November 2012, the case went to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, which September 6 upheld the 2012 amendments to the law, ensuring that government-mandated PLAs are prohibited on state, local and publicly funded projects in Michigan.
“So far, 18 states have banned government-mandated PLAs, and this ruling shows that state governments are well within their rights to say that these taxpayer-funded handouts are not welcome on projects in their states,” said ABC Sr. Manager of State and Local Affairs Andy Conlin.
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit is the second federal Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the right of a government entity to ban government-mandated PLAs. In 2002, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld Executive Order 13202, issued by President George W. Bush in 2002. Additionally, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa upheld a similar order issued by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) in 2011.
