Posts tagged public works
Alton public works employees begin strike at midnight after talks stall
September 24, 2026 // A Thursday afternoon press release from the City of Alton outlines plans to navigate the strike while keeping emergency services and "other work the City deems essential to public health and safety" on track. Beth Bear, the Alton City Council coordinator, sent the press release. Alton says emergency work outside the city's agreements, threats to public health or safety, and emergency declarations will be upheld. The city also says repairs to traffic signs and signals resulting from accidents, emergency-related street cleanups, and road repairs addressing public safety hazards will not stop.
Largest union of Marion County employees authorizes strike
September 13, 2026 // The most contentious issue in bargaining has been the county’s contribution to employees’ health insurance payments. The union had initially asked Marion County to contribute 95% toward its employees’ healthcare costs. The union said that three other unions that represent Marion County employees receive the 95% contribution.
Pioneer Institute Statement on the Project Labor Agreement Provision in the Massachusetts Economic Development Bill
August 6, 2024 // Earlier this year a Hampden County Superior Court stuck down a PLA on a $325 million Westfield water treatment plant project, ruling that PLAs pose “such a significant disadvantage to open shops as to render a competitive bid impossible
Opinion: Free Raises for Everybody. Not.
August 17, 2023 // One obvious result will be higher costs on public works and probably fewer of them since federal dollars won’t go as far. States and localities may have to borrow more and raise taxes to fund projects. Fewer semiconductor fabs and renewable projects will probably be built since private capital won’t go as far. Another result will be less private investment, especially in housing, since contractors will have to increase wages to compete for workers with federally funded projects that must pay the prevailing wage. The rule will also reduce the competitive advantage of right-to-work states by raising the wages their contractors have to pay.
City employees march against low staffing
March 25, 2022 //
Baker City California: City negotiating contracts with 2 of 3 unions
February 20, 2022 // Baker City Manager Jonathan Cannon said negotiations are ongoing with two of the three labor unions representing city employees. Separate unions represent police, fire and public works employees, and the city has contracts with each.