ALBANY-A change by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to require Project Labor Agreements with unionized construction trades on major design-build projects over $10 million has sparked some criticism from some circles and could jeopardize the renewal of the design-build law which is to expire at the end of this year.
The 2011 design-build law, which is being used on the nearly $4-billion new Tappan Zee Bridge project, is credited with shaving years off large public infrastructure projects, according to Crain's New York Business However, the PLA requirement in Gov. Cuomo's design-build renewal bill is pitting union trades organizations against open-shop, non-union groups.
"The debate in Albany cries out for compromise," says Richard Anderson, president of the New York Building Congress, an industry group that strongly supports the measure. Anderson says that renewal of the law is critical for infrastructure projects in the five boroughs and across the state. "All sides have much to gain from the bill's passage," he adds.
"We support the concept of design-build," says Michael Elmendorf, chief executive officer at the Associated General Contractors of New York State, which includes union and non-union construction firms. "But there are likely going to be some significant concerns about (the) new language."
The concept of contract procurement by design-build allows a single development team to submit both the design and construction plans at the same time for certain projects, instead of bidding on designs formulated by state agencies, such as the Department of Transportation. See story in Crain's New York Business.
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