Access New York City’s groundbreaking Project Labor Agreement here.

Contractors and unions in New York City came together on a project labor agreement (PLA) designed to significantly increase productivity and reduce costs.

Meetings between the Building Trades Employers Association (BTEA) and the Building & Construction Trades Council (BCTC) began after owners and developers in the city asked the parties to cut costs by 25 percent and threatened to hire open shop contractors if that demand was not met. Parties agreed to a combination of work rule changes and other concessions that an independent study says could save close to 20 percent.