A respected voice on Mass. construction issues

Not long ago, it would have been incomprehensible for the Boston Globe to publish an editorial condemning the use of union-only project labor agreements on state construction projects. But on March 30th the Globe published its second such editorial in less than two years, this time opposing Governor Patrick's plan to use a PLA for the $260 million reconstruction of the Longfellow Bridge. It is yet another example of how far we've come in terms of being a respected voice on Massachusetts construction issues. The editorial is fantastic news, but we can't expect the Globe do our work for us. Members recently received a copy of a letter ABC sent Gov. Patrick together with talking points on the Longfellow Bridge PLA issue and a link that allows you to register opposition to the PLA to your legislators. By taking advantage of the opportunity the editorial provides, we can remind elected officials that the union lobbyists they so regularly see don't represent the views of their constituents, who want to get the most for their tax dollars by maximizing competition. Just over a week before the PLA editorial was published, ABC held a recruitment event at McGladrey's Charlestown headquarters that featured Patriots' Assistant Head Coach Dante Scharnecchia talking about the importance of teamwork. By early this month, the event had already produced fifteen new members. If you're wondering what the connection is between the Globe editorial and our successful recruitment event, it's really very simple. The open shop can only stand up for itself by standing together. Our political clout is directly connected to how many members we have standing behind the cause of fair and open competition. Every ABC member should be proud of the remarkable progress we have made in recent years. We must also keep working to capitalize on our victories and maximize our clout by growing the membership. Thank you for the support that makes accomplishments like the editorial and successful recruitment event possible. It is only by working together that our voice will be heard. Dennis Maguire is the president of Mass. Chapter of the Associated Builders & Contractors, Burlington, Mass.