BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Mayor Brandon Scott announced Monday that Baltimore has reached an agreement to establish its first-ever project labor agreement, marking a significant shift in how the city will manage major public construction projects.

The agreement, reached in partnership with the Baltimore–D.C. Metro Building Trades Council and the Department of Public Works (DPW), will apply to four major DPW infrastructure projects and prioritize the use of union labor, expanded apprenticeship opportunities, and local hiring.

I am so proud to announce we’ve reached a consensus on Baltimore City’s first-ever Project Labor Agreement,” said Mayor Scott, via press release. “This is great news for our workers, our union partners, DPW, and our entire city. When it comes to projects that are as important as these, we want the best trained, most skilled labor on the job — and that’s union labor. I want to thank all of the folks who have worked with us for so long to finally make this happen.

The agreement covers the rehabilitation of three pumping stations — Dundalk, Ashburton, and Quad Avenue — as well as the Sparrows Point Alternative Outfall project.

City officials say the agreement is designed to promote timely completion of the projects while improving worksite safety, wages, and dispute resolution processes.

I am excited for the potential benefits of this Agreement, which we’ve worked to craft alongside our union partners in a way that ensures it works for all,” said Director Matthew Garbark, Department of Public Works, via press release. “The projects that are included are critically important, and they will require technical expertise and knowledge to complete. That means we need the best workforce that our City has to offer. With this Agreement in place, our union partners, our contractors, and the City will all be working together to ensure these projects are delivered using skilled labor from Baltimore City and completed with the high quality that our residents deserve.

In addition to labor standards, the agreement includes provisions to expand apprenticeship and workforce training programs.

The city will partner with the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development and the Building Trades Council’s Raising the Bar Apprenticeship Readiness Program to help prepare local residents for construction careers tied to the projects.

Baltimore is growing and reliable infrastructure is necessary to support the growth of the city. Union tradespeople are best to do this work to ensure the highest possible quality on vital city resources.” said President Gregory Ackerman, Baltimore- D.C. Metro Building Trades Council, via press release. “As the city undergoes a renaissance, building trades members are excited to be the hands that rebuild this city. This agreement builds on similar project labor agreements to build the Frederick Douglass tunnel and to rebuild the Key Bridge. Our members build the infrastructure that makes life better and easier for everyone.

City officials noted that because this is Baltimore’s first project labor agreement, the agreement includes additional guidelines covering wages, hours, worksite conditions, grievance procedures, and construction timelines to reduce delays and control costs.

The project labor agreement is scheduled to go before the city’s Board of Estimates for approval at its January 7, 2026 meeting.

If approved, the agreement will be formally signed and remain in effect until the completion of the four DPW projects.