U.S. District Court Judge Tosses Suit after Plaintiffs Voluntarily Withdraw the Complaint
A leading voice on behalf of construction workers released a statement today after a lawsuit filed in March, 2019 by the Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors challenging Project Labor Agreements or PLAs was voluntarily dismissed, according to court documents.
“While the plaintiffs are not commenting about their reasons for withdrawing this lawsuit, it appears the Pacific Legal Foundation pulled out once they saw the information the Minneapolis School District and Minneapolis Building Trades put together on the process and the benefits of PLAs, realizing the claims made by Laketown Electric and the MN Chapter of the ABC are without merit and decided to stop throwing good money after bad.
As we’ve stated from the start, the facts are Project Labor Agreements are legal, having been upheld numerous times in venues across the United States and anyone can bid on and work on jobs under a Project Labor Agreement. This lawsuit was yet another failed attempt by the MN ABC to intimidate school districts, which are increasingly using Project Labor Agreements to help keep construction projects on time and on budget while maximizing benefits to local families.” said Dan McConnell, the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council’s business manager.
The MN Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) was joined in this litigation by the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), a conservative nonprofit legal organization that has participated in anti-union litigation around the country.
Last March in response to the plaintiff’s claims McConnell referred to the lawsuit, which contends that PLAs are unconstitutional, as misguided.
“Anyone can bid on these jobs under a PLA, both union and non-union,” said McConnell. “It ensures projects are done with safe and skilled labor. Most high profile jobs in the state and around the country are done under PLAs and for good reason because they ensure the quality of labor you need and they help to ensure the work gets done on time and on or under budget. We help build communities and grow our economy”
At issue was a PLA adopted by the Minneapolis School District.
About PLAs
Billions of dollars’ worth of sophisticated construction projects are built each year under Project Labor Agreements or PLAs, including major projects in Minnesota. Examples include: U.S. Bank Stadium, 35W Bridge, TCF Bank Stadium, Target Field, Federal Courthouse, Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Hennepin County Government Center, Saint Paul Civic Center, Minneapolis Convention Center, Rochester Civic Center, Ramsey County Jail , University of Minnesota-Duluth, 188th Air Guard Maintenance Building, Mall of America, St Paul Technical College, Rondo Library, Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge, Federal Reserve Bank, School Districts including Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth, Mounds View, Stillwater, and Anoka-Hennepin, Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, Minnesota Department of Revenue Building and numerous hospital projects.
About the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades:
The Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council advocates for unionized construction workers throughout Minneapolis and surrounding areas. Roughly 15,000 members strong, the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council has provided leadership and advocacy for unionized construction workers for decades. For more information, visit: http://mplsbctc.org .