The Biden administration is boosting union work with an executive order signed on Feb. 4 requiring the federal government to require a project labor agreement (PLA) before awarding contracts.

The order requires PLAs for large-scale construction contracts that are at least $35 million or more, meaning non-union contractors may miss out on these big projects.

As Trent Cotney, CEO of Cotney Attorneys & Consultants, notes in this brief Legal Insights podcast, the order is part of Biden’s promise to be a union-friendly president.

“(PLAs) act as an umbrella over existing union agreements,” said Cotney. “This is going to allow more union labor to do these large, federal construction projects.”

But not all is doom-and-gloom for contractors. Cotney recounts the success of the 2022 International Roofing Expo, held Feb. 1-3 in New Orleans, and provides tips for contractors based on IRE session topics, including the prevention of embezzlement.

Listen to the podcast here or download the episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.