Arizona Building & Construction Trades Council (AZBTC) Urges Legislators to Support Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) in HB 2704
Phoenix, AZ (January 30, 2025) – The Arizona Building & Construction Trades Council (AZBTC) is calling on state legislators to ensure that taxpayer-funded projects truly benefit Arizona taxpayers and workers by negotiating a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) before passing HB 2704.
We have seen this maneuver before— workers hear lots of talk and a PLA promise. Owners and general contractors promise to provide a public benefit when receiving public dollars by negotiating a project labor agreement, but in the end, only excuses prevail. The result? Taxpayers and workers lose out on the benefits they deserve from taxpayer-funded projects. Without PLAs there is no guarantee that local \workers will be hired or that the project will support fair wages, safe job sites, or much-needed workforce training and apprenticeship programs.
“Project Labor Agreements ensure that Arizona’s taxpayer dollars create good-paying, local jobs, and a highly skilled workforce, rather than allowing out-of-state contractors to undercut Arizona workers,” said Jeff Holly, President of the Arizona Construction and Building Trades Council, “Arizona is booming, and we need to make sure the construction industry keeps those jobs local while providing high-quality training and workplace safety. A PLA requirement would strengthen Arizona’s economy by ensuring that state-funded projects employ local, well-trained union workers who are ready to build complex stadiums on time and on budget.”
Without a PLA, there is no guarantee that:
- Arizona workers will be prioritized over out-of-state contractors.
- Apprenticeship programs will be included to train the next generation of tradespeople.
- Construction will be done under safe working conditions with fair wages.
- Arizona’s economy will benefit from keeping taxpayer-funded jobs local.
The Arizona Building & Construction Trades Council urges lawmakers to advocate for a PLA before voting on HB 2704—so that Arizona’s workers, not just rich owners and developers, reap the benefits of these public investments.
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About AZBTC: The Arizona Building and Construction Trades Council has served Arizona’s construction labor unions for more than 50 years. Now representing 20,000 members, the Council works with its affiliates, labor partners and contractors to provide and continue to grow an exceptional construction labor force.