Project labor agreements — or PLAs — may not be the flashiest phrase in politics, but they are an important one. At a moment when New Yorkers need good-paying, union jobs, when our city government needs to build things faster and more efficiently, and when we all need a more affordable New York City, PLAs help us deliver all three. That’s why yesterday the Adams administration and the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and Vicinity (BCTC) took a $7 billion step towards bringing even more PLAs to life.

When you walk past a library or recreation center, you may not think about all the work that goes into building them, but capital construction projects in New York can be costly and complex. With PLAs, the city and BCTC negotiate the terms and conditions of those projects ahead of time.

For the workers, PLAs mean fair wages and benefits, key safety protections, and training opportunities. For the city, they mean clear, consistent, upfront costs, labor harmony during construction, and a reliable source of skilled union talent.

By standardizing work rules during........

© NY Daily News