The wage scale because of the prevailing wage law is exactly the same for union and non-union workers.

Firms with unions can be competitive but they need to compete. UPS has a strong union – but the entire organization is efficient and competes well.

The US shipping building industry – has the equivalent of a “PLA” and the industry has died – instead ships get built in Finland – this is sad.

PLAs remind me of being forced to by a car from GM or Ford – and not being allowed to buy a Honda because the car was made in a non-union shop. You would end up with very expensive poor quality cars – just like the 1970s.

I don’t think PLAs were the primary problem with the “BIG DIG” – but if there was not a PLA agreement the costs would be less – up to 15% less – considering the project cost close to 20B – imagine what we could do with 3B. You could fund construction in the state – lower taxes – fund DMH – there are a lot of possibilities with 3B.

I believe in person and economic freedom. PLAs restrict the economic right of construction workers to work for the firm they wish and contractors to bid and build projects they are capable of.

The big dig was built under a PLA – and was not overwhelming successful for quality of construction, design or budget.

Our state and country has a need for quality construction – both union and non-union contractors can offer this – let all firms bid. PLAs are just a political payoff to unions and union contractors.

If non-union shops want a level playing field than they need to become union shops. Union made work is far superior to non-union labor for many reasons, mostly because the trades are organized and the apprenticeship programs are outstanding, resulting in the taxpayer getting what they pay for.

What is always left unsaid in these arguments ( and never reflected in polls by “market-oriented” research groups) is that union labor is hired by non-union companies; wages are set by union contracts but acceleration costs, production rates etc are negotiated between sub contractor companies, GC or CM’s and owners. So after the change orders are submitted and paid, it isn’t the union mechanic that is buying the new boat.

PLA agreements are crony capitalism – construction funds paid for by our tax dollars are directed only to firms that use union labor. These construction firms and their union allies then spend money earned from these public projects to lobby for more PLA projects. I would call this “re-enforcing and enhancing personal advantages”.

Union firms should be able to compete with the non-union firms – and by law the workers on public projects get paid the same whether they are union or not (Prevailing wage law). PLA just restrict the number of firms bidding and raise the prices on public construction.

Even though taxes come from both union and non-union households – in Massachusetts – on large projects only union workers and companies are allowed to bid – Boston Globe July Editorial

This is crony capitalism and unfair to non-union construction workers and firms.

Crony capitalism rests upon personal, and mutually advantageous, relationships for the sole purpose of re-enforcing and enhancing personal advantages.

Unions power and primacy rests upon a solid history of mutually destructive relationships based upon exploitation and inequality.

You hate unions because they are a standing, and ringing, affirmation of your inability to exploit. Whatever else you think you think about them, that’s the foundation.

This is crony capitalism and unfair to non-union construction workers and firms.

He didn’t say that some Bain guy thinks he’s smart. Some connected Wall Streeter doesn’t claim to have great ideas, he claims great connections with Senate staffers and regulators. Obama attacked the Main Street business entrepreneur.

The real problem is that Obama’s reasoning, even if we give him a huge benefit of the doubt, is an argument for state capitalism and inevitably crony capitalism. It’s an argument for big spending on military projects, road projects even though the country is paved over, government knocking down your house and building an office park, and then taking big taxes from both huge construction contractors like Halliburton and also all the Main Street businesses of a size to be developed by that one smart person.

Those Main Street businesses are not the ones wrecking the economy, buying up government influence and using that to wipe out their competitors. The enemy are those companies big enough to buy favorable government policies and payouts, and high taxes which will kill their smaller competitors. And that’s exactly the effect of Obama’s tax increases, those are exactly the people who will get hit and destroyed.