Judge approves project labor agreements made in 2009

A federal judge has ruled that 2009 agreements between the city and construction unions designed to save $300 million on public construction projects over four years are within the scope of the law, Crain’s reported.

The judge’s ruling came in response to a lawsuit brought by the Building Industry Electrical Contractors Association and the United Electrical Contractors Association, alleging that the deals violated the National Labor Relations Act and state competitive bidding statutes.

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The comprehensive pre-hire collective bargaining agreements laid out employment conditions for everyone involved with $6 billion in infrastructure projects through 2014.

“This important ruling will allow critical public works — such as the new police academy — to proceed without interruption and ensure that future construction projects will be completed in a cost-effective and efficient manner,” said Jonathan Becker, deputy chief of the city Law Department’s commercial and real estate litigation division. [Crain’s]