Advocacy
Empowering Your Voice in Construction Policy
Advocacy & Action
Advocating for the Merit Shop in the Ohio Valley
The ABC Ohio Valley Government Affairs team represents the interests of our members, workforce, apprentices, and the merit shop philosophy at the local, state, and federal levels. Through active engagement in legislative sessions and policy discussions, we work to ensure the construction industry’s voice is heard on issues that directly impact contractors.
Grassroots advocacy is central to our efforts. We encourage members to connect with elected officials, participate in outreach initiatives, and support policies that protect free enterprise and fair competition in construction.
We also monitor regulatory developments and educate lawmakers on the critical role construction plays in economic growth and community development. By staying proactive and informed, we help safeguard open markets and strengthen the industry throughout the Ohio Valley.
Advocate for Change Through Action
Your Voice. Your Industry. Your Impact.
Your involvement plays a critical role in shaping the policies that impact our industry and communities throughout the Ohio Valley. Whether you are contacting legislators, participating in meetings, or engaging in advocacy efforts, your perspective helps lawmakers understand how their decisions affect contractors, employees, and local businesses.
Your experience matters. By sharing how proposed legislation influences your company and workforce, you contribute to more informed and practical policy decisions. Tools like the ABC Action App make it easy to connect with policymakers and stay engaged on issues that matter most.
Together, we can support policies that protect free enterprise, strengthen the construction industry, and create opportunity across our region. Get involved and make your voice count.
TAKE ACTION
ABC Action is an advanced advocacy tool that enables users to become a vital part of the ABC grassroots advocacy efforts and further the merit shop philosophy.
Uniting Industry Voices to Inform and Educate Policymakers
Building Awareness: Addressing Regulatory Challenges
ABC Ohio Valley members recognize the challenges facing today’s construction industry, many of which arise from complex and burdensome regulations. By collaborating with industry partners and engaging within our communities, we work to inform policymakers about how these policies affect the contractors and skilled professionals who drive our industry forward.
Our goal is to bridge the gap between legislative intent and real-world jobsite impact, helping ensure that laws and regulations support growth, competitiveness, and long-term success rather than creating unnecessary obstacles for construction businesses.
Advancing Policies That Protect and Strengthen Merit Shop Construction
Our advocacy efforts address a broad range of priorities, from expanding support for state apprenticeship programs to opposing policies that unfairly disadvantage merit shop contractors and their employees. We also support initiatives that preserve open competition, including efforts that allow local governments to make independent decisions regarding Project Labor Agreements.
ABC Ohio Valley’s Government Affairs agenda is focused on strengthening our industry’s voice, defending merit shop principles, and promoting free enterprise. Our objective is to help shape a fair and practical legislative environment that encourages growth, supports opportunity, and positions the construction industry for long-term success across the Ohio Valley.
PLAs: Limiting Fairness and Elevating Costs in Construction
What is a Project Labor Agreement (PLA)?
Project Labor Agreements: Unpacking Fairness, Costs, and Community Impact in Construction
Project Labor Agreements bring to light several critical issues in the construction industry related to fairness, cost, and community involvement. By prioritizing certain labor groups over others, PLAs have the potential to increase project costs, limit local employment opportunities, and impose undue restrictions on contractors and workers alike.
A Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is a contentious type of agreement that can prevent contractors and their skilled workforce from participating in and securing construction projects. These agreements often bar workers from non-union, or “merit shop,” backgrounds from engaging in projects for which they are perfectly suited, leading to discrimination claims and unnecessary financial implications.
The Impact of PLAs on Construction Costs and Competition
PLAs are known to inflate the costs of construction projects by eliminating the healthy competition that typically leads to more favorable pricing and quality. By favoring certain labor groups, these agreements can increase project expenses significantly, estimates suggest by 10-30%, due to reduced competition.
Exclusion of Non-Union Workers and Apprenticeships
PLAs often exclude skilled workers, veterans, and those enrolled in state-recognized apprenticeship programs not affiliated with unions, denying them critical on-the-job training opportunities. This exclusion impacts individual career paths and affects family and community stability.
Key Statistics and Considerations
With a significant portion of the construction workforce operating outside of unions, PLAs that require a union-only labor force have many projects to bypass the local workforce entirely. This exclusionary approach disadvantages the majority of local contractors and small businesses, leading to higher costs for public projects funded by taxpayers. It also imposes restrictions on worker choice regarding union membership, benefits, and pensions.
Free Enterprise Alliance
ABC’s Free Enterprise Alliance is dedicated to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs. They advocate for limited government and fair & open competition, pursuing these principles through political action.
Priority Issue Briefs
ABC identifies priority issues by determining what issues have the most significant impact or potential impact on the construction industry and its people. ABC is dedicated to serving and protecting our members, and ensuring they remained informed on these important issues. Read the briefs and ABC’s official stances on the most pressing issues for the industry here.
Merit Shop Scorecards
ABC makes it easy to keep up with the state legislation that impacts our industry. The merit shop score card uses data from over a dozen sources to provide the most up-to-date industry data and information on relevant legislation. View Ohio’s Merit Shop scorecard here.
We are also dedicated to serving our members in northern Kentucky. View Kentucky’s Merit Shop scorecard here.
ABC of Ohio
ABC of Ohio encompasses the three chapters across our state. Visit ABC of Ohio’s website for additional resources, including frequent updates in legislative reports.
