A bill that would allow labor unions to set the terms for how employees are hired on city construction projects has run into early opposition from Baltimore’s minority and nonunion contractors.
Speaking in front of City Hall on Monday, representatives of several construction firms said the proposed legislation would be a burden on the city’s nonunion shops, many of which are minority-owned and employ people rejected by union groups like those with criminal records.
“If City Council is concerned about local hires, this is the last thing they should do,” said Mike Henderson, president of Associated Builders & Contractors of Baltimore.
The proposed bill, which is still in its infancy, would require project labor agreements, a prehire collective bargaining agreement between a contractor and a labor organization that establishes a labor group to represent everyone who works on the project. Championed by Council President Brandon Scott and Councilwoman Shannon Sneed, the bill would apply to all city construction projects valued at $25 million or more, or long-term capital improvement plans of more than $15 million that involve projects at multiple locations.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Emily Opilo over at The Baltimore Sun