Prioritize creating good paying jobs

May 17, 2012

The Washington Times reports, "Though some had hoped for action on Wednesday, the regional authority overseeing the $6 billion rail-to-Dulles project will not discuss - or possibly vote on - a labor provision that is threatening to derail the second leg of the 23-mile rail line until as late as June 6. The board of directors for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) had already voted to grant a 10 percent scoring bonus to contractors that pledge to use a union-friendly labor agreement on Phase 2 of the $6 billion Dulles Metrorail project. However, Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton has said the commonwealth will not contribute the $150 million it has pledged for the second leg of the project if the agreement isn't dropped."

Progressive Point: Virginians need good paying jobs. But political games are getting in the way of putting people to work building rail to Dulles. Ensuring that workers on the project not only get paid a fair wage, but that they work in safe conditions with adequate  training just makes sense.

Requirements to hire local workers mean that money will go right back into our economy, keeping construction dollars in our communities. And well-trained workers means less accidents and fatalities on the job, something we can all support. Our elected officials need to prioritize creating good paying jobs-it will benefit the Dulles project and it will benefit Virginia.

Get the Facts:

• Phase 1 of the Dulles Rail project utilized a PLA. The project is ahead of schedule, under budget, and has the best safety record of any construction project in Virginia. The new Springfield interchange (I-95 & I-495) is being constructed without a PLA. That project is "three times over budget, way behind schedule", and there have been 4 fatalities on the job. (Building & Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO)

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