Union-only Project Labor Agreements (PLAs)
A PLA, identified by ABC as one of the greatest threats to merit construction, is an agreement between organized labor and an owner that requires contractors to become signatory to the unions. This effectively discriminates against 80% of the contractors and workers who have already chosen to work merit and to refrain from joining a union. The union-only requirement discriminates against the people who pay their local taxes and contribute to the local economy, as every person is required to pay for the project through taxes, yet not every business or individual is allowed to work on, or at the very least, bid upon the job.

Salting
ABC is working to stop the abuse of NLRB, OSHA, and EEOC procedures as an offensive weapon against open shop contractors. We also strive to support legislation that prohibits union agents from entering non-union workplaces under the guise of employment and organizing, while ultimately advancing the unions’ objectives and economically devastating the company.

Job Training
ABC, a leader in private training, is concerned with the shortage of trained workers in the construction industry. Therefore, our organization continues to back legislation which eliminates regulatory barriers to private training.

The Davis-Bacon Act
ABC supports the repeal of this outdated and costly law which denies small businesses the ability to compete for federal contracts, inflates the cost of federal construction, and eliminates the free market approach of contracting to the lowest, most responsible bidder.

Occupational Safety
ABC encourages a safe workplace and protection of its workforce on the jobsite through preventative measures, including training and education programs. Our organization also backs the reform of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in order to target violations that cause serious injuries and to better address the root causes of occupational accidents.

Fiscal Responsibility
ABC aids efforts to balance the federal budget and reduce tax burdens on businesses. We support the Balanced Budget Act and legislation providing estate tax relief, capital gains tax cuts, S-Corporation reform, simplification of independent contractors, and construction-specific tax relief.

Regulatory Reform
ABC champions the reduction of costly and counterproductive regulations and paperwork and the elimination of unneeded programs. We back legislation that requires benefits to outweigh costs, allows flexibility in contributing to a cleaner, safer environment, and makes bureaucrats accountable for the costs of regulatory decisions.