Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Labor pains

Offering yet another example of the local political establishment's complete disconnection from fiscal reality, officials at McCarran International Airport have implemented a "project labor agreement" for the $100 million expansion of the D-gate terminal and the nearby $120 million rental car center. As a result, prevailing wages must be paid for the construction, giving a clear advantage to union shops over nonunion contractors.

Even though a prevailing wage mandate could increase the cost of the expansion by as much as 40 percent, McCarran officials say they need "skilled craftsmen" -- meaning union employees -- to complete the job.

This is an insult to nonunion laborers, some of whom will lose their jobs because they won't be allowed to work on the expansion ... not to mention taxpayers, for whom McCarran officials presumably work.

State Sen. Warren Hardy, R-Henderson, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Southern Nevada, thinks President Bush has the right idea: He recently issued an executive order prohibiting PLAs on projects using federal funds.

Sen. Hardy is urging Gov. Kenny Guinn to issue a similar ban on PLAs for state projects. Such a no-brainer would stretch taxpayer dollars, boost employment and let needed construction projects move forward.