We need you to contact your legislators today and urge them to co-sponsor State Representatives Thadeus Claggett and Heidi Workman’s Fair and Open Competition Act that will prohibit the use of state funds on public works projects that include a mandatory project labor agreement. 

With over 80% of Ohio’s private construction workforce choosing not to belong to a union, state funds should not be used on projects that require workers to join a union, compel union dues and contributions to union benefit plans, and enforce union work rules. Government-mandated project labor agreements discourage competition from these experienced merit shop contractors and their skilled employees. When mandated on state or state-assisted projects, PLAs increase construction costs by 12% to 20%, resulting in less job creation, fewer construction projects, and higher taxes for people living in our state. 

Federal government agencies and courts are already examining harmful policies from the Biden and Trump administrations, mandating or encouraging PLA use on federal and federally-assisted projects. Our state must act to finally protect Ohio taxpayers and the hardworking construction professionals across our state.

Take action now to ask your legislator to co-sponsor the Fair and Open Competition Act and prohibit the use of government-mandated PLAs on public construction projects in Ohio.