Missouri Bill Would Bar Construction Labor Agreements
Missouri lawmakers approved a bill April 27 that would bar project labor agreements that require non-union contractors to pay union wages, according to Bloomberg BNA. Under S.B. 182, state and local governments would be prohibited from requiring bidders on public projects to use union labor or pay union wages. The bill would also prohibit preferential treatment for union contractors and cut state funding on local governments that violate the law. Gov. Eric Greitens (R-Mo.) is expected to sign the legislation; Greitens signed into law a right-to-work measure earlier this year. Under current law, project labor agreements are banned in Missouri for projects funded 50 percent or more with state funds but are allowed for other projects. According to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the bill could save "thousands of dollars" for the state. "The bill would leave it in the hands of the contractor, and as a result, the contractor can choose the most cost-eff...