Cyndie Williams is the executive director of the Carpenter Contractor Trust.

Delawareans deserve good jobs, fair wages and to be included in the building of the “First State.” However, they are sometimes considered last when it comes to local construction. That is why it is essential for the Delaware legislature to pass Senate Bill 241, a bill that would institute project labor agreements on taxpayer-funded projects of $5 million or more.

PLAs are prehire collective bargaining agreements that set wages, working conditions, safety standards and dispute procedures for specific projects. They bind all contractors and subcontractors alike, creating an equal, level playing field for everyone on the jobsite. They are used successfully in both public- and private-sector construction to ensure safe and efficient jobsites.

Taxpayers and legislators deserve transparency on projects. PLAs promote project transparency and stability by:

• Offering structured labor relations, reducing potential delays and eliminating disputes.
• Creating a demand for a higher-skilled workforce, resulting in lower long-term maintenance costs.
• Defining built-in accountability because of the agreed dispute process that’s baked into the PLA, a process that all parties sign off on.
• Passing legal scrutiny. Delaware, as a market participant funding construction projects, has the legal authority and fiscal obligation to set the standards it expects in return.

While PLAs protect taxpayers by providing clear guidelines, they also benefit construction workers. PLAs ensure that workers are skilled and certified through recognized training programs. For example, in Delaware, the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Center has training locations in New Castle and Georgetown, which offer qualified candidates apprenticeships in well-paying construction careers. These training centers have also partnered with the University of Delaware to expand education and career pathways for apprentices and journeypersons through online graduate programs, professional certificates and customized training. PLAs can include specific goals for the workforce, which often include language to support partnerships with community-based recruitment. In short, they offer training, career pathways and job opportunities for Delawareans.

PLAs create equal opportunity for both union and nonunion contractors. SB 241 does not exclude any potential bidders; it only requires that all contractors meet a project’s labor standards. The bill also includes important compromises: It allows contractors to retain up to 10% of their own workforce. This ensures that competition remains healthy and active at the state level, while raising skill standards on each project. Contractors retain management control over their workers, and prime contractors are involved in negotiating the agreement.

Delaware’s General Assembly has an opportunity to invest not just in buildings but in the people who build them. Passing SB 241 means choosing quality, safety and fairness. Delaware taxpayers and workers deserve nothing less.

To learn more about project labor agreements, please visit whatisapla.com.