Obama order represents payoff to unions

Here come the payoffs. Whether you think the government spending $1 trillion-plus to stimulate the economy is the right or wrong thing, there is absolutely no reason why President Obama should shut out non-union labor from even bidding on any of the stimulus package pork dollars.

But that is exactly what he has done.

Here is the story from the AP.

President Barack Obama on Friday issued an executive order backing the use of union labor for large-scale federal construction projects.

The order encourages federal agencies to have construction contractors and subcontractors enter project labor agreements. Those agreements require contractors to negotiate with union officials, recognize union wages and benefits and generally abide by collective-bargaining agreements.

Obama’s order restores a Clinton administration order that was revoked by President George W. Bush.

It is the fourth union-friendly executive order that Obama has signed since he’s been in office, and one of about a dozen orders put in place by Bush that labor leaders have urged Obama to repeal.

“Project labor agreements are a win-win for everyone involved,” said James Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. “Contractors get highly trained, skilled labor with fixed costs, and workers are fairly compensated with their rights and safety protected.”

But the Associated Builders and Contractors, a trade group, said the order would unfairly steer federal construction contracts to unionized contractors despite the fact that 84 percent of U.S. construction workers do not belong to labor unions.

ABC president Kirk Pickerel said the effect would “drive up costs for American taxpayers” by reducing competitive bidding on projects.

AwWin-win Hoffa? I can’t find anything good about this since many of the large non-union business will not be able to get one contract. This is simply a pay-off to the unions, that will drive up the costs of projects and slow them down.

As noted, this is one of those executive orders that switch back and forth depending on which party is running the Executive Branch.

One quick thing. When whitehouse.gov was launched, there was a section called Executive Orders under the Briefing Room. Now that section is called Presidential Actions.

Here is a direct link to the order. Since federal dollars will be spent at the local level on these projects, my bet is that they will be considered federal projects and will need to have union labor.

More from Gateway Pundit.

Homework assignment. What percentage of the unionized workforce work for the government?

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

2 Comments

  1. davis on February 8, 2009 at 4:11 am

    At least you pointed out that this executive order switches back and forth depending on which party has the White House. So what is your point? That not should not switch, as a payoff to those who used to be in the White House? "To the winners belong the spoils" somebody said a long, long time ago. Still true to day, sooooorry (though Limbaugh would love to crush the Democrats under any condition).



  2. Dimsdale on February 8, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    You are right Davis, and let the chips fall where they may.? I just wonder where your argument was during Bush’s tenure?? It is just humorous that this policy will work against BO’s stated desire to fix the country’s infrastructure, both in speed and cost.

    Is there any doubt that the Democrats would love to crush Limbaugh under any condition, hence the insipid revival of the “fairness” doctrine?



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