Overview
The Buffalo Co-Lab and the Worker Institute conducted a feasibility study for the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) in street tree planting contracts commissioned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
Project Labor Agreements are “job site constitutions” that set terms for an entire project rather than taking a piecemeal, trade-by-trade approach to contracting and negotiation.
As detailed in this report, the PLA design not only appears to be feasible for New York City’s street tree planting contracts, but it also has the potential to be net beneficial for the Department of Parks and Recreation, the public, firms that successfully bid on planting contracts and workers performing the labor on those contracts.
Key Findings
Using the PLA mechanism for street tree planting work in New York City is feasible and would likely yield the following positive benefits:
- Substantive cost savings from standardizing work crew compositions and making use of the relatively new “Green Infrastructure” pay rate.
- Nontrivial cost savings from establishing a joint-trustee group benefit fund for all workers on the PLA project.
- Upward pressure on safety standards, resulting in greater immediate cost savings on insurance premiums and potential long-term savings due to reduced tort claims.
- Upward pressure on quality standards.
- Faster contract execution and quicker tree planting.
- Faster dispute resolution.
- Improved capacity to meet or exceed goals for minority- and/or women-owned business enterprises.
Recommendations
Given the consistency with which PLAs are found to provide broad social and economic benefits to the public and based on this report’s findings, we recommend that the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation adopt a PLA for its street tree planting construction contracts.
Potential Research Impact
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is well positioned to generate even greater social and economic benefits for the people, workers and neighborhoods of New York City by using PLAs for its street tree planting and site-work contracts.
Based on the report’s findings, we conclude that efforts to apply prevailing union standards – e.g., for work quality, wages, benefits, worker training and so on – to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation tree planting construction contracts have the potential to save trees, time and money.
Thus, street tree planting with a PLA is feasible, and it appears to be a good deal for the city, its residents and its local construction workforce.
AUTHORS:
Russell Weaver, Buffalo Co-Lab director of research; Anne Marie Brady, Worker Institute research director, worker rights and equity
CONTACT:
Cathy Creighton
Director
cathycreighton@cornell.edu
The Buffalo Co-Lab for Economic Development continues to play a leading role in Buffalo’s resurgence with a more equitable economy. By partnering with Western New York businesses, unions, government, education and community organizations, the Buffalo Co-Lab impacts New Yorkers statewide through workplace health and safety programs, economic development and labor research, immersion experiences for students and many other initiatives.
CONTACTS:
Patricia Campos-Medina
Executive Director
pec1@cornell.edu
Risa Lieberwitz
Academic Director
rll5@cornell.edu
The Worker Institute engages in research and education on contemporary labor issues to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy and society. The institute brings together researchers, educators and students with practitioners in labor, business and policymaking to confront growing economic and social inequalities, in the interests of working people and their families. A core value of the Worker Institute is that collective representation and workers’ rights are vital to a fair economy, robust democracy and just society.
ws283@cornell.edu