Union representatives and contractors urge feasibility study on Project Labor Agreement for school work

Representatives of construction trades and construction‑industry groups used the public comment period to press town and school officials to consider a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the four‑school program.

Allen Graves, identified in the transcript as representing IBEW Local 99, said PLAs can ensure local labor utilization, apprenticeship participation and schedule certainty. “PLAs are essential in a lot of these projects… If this town Barrington was to save 5% out of this $250,000,000 project, that's $25,000,000,” Graves said, urging study and consideration of PLAs to secure skilled, local workers and to reduce the risk of delays or stoppages.

Another speaker representing the Lincoln Coalition asked the bodies to conduct a feasibility study to determine whether a PLA would be in the town’s fiscal interest; the speaker framed the study as a third‑party analysis that can identify whether a PLA could be fiduciarily beneficial and avoid disruptions on complex projects.

A union business manager and other commenters said PLAs have been used on comparable Rhode Island school projects and that a study would clarify the local labor availability, apprenticeship targets and potential schedule benefits while protecting taxpayer interests.

The committee did not take a vote on a PLA at the meeting. Several members of the public and construction stakeholders requested that the committee place a PLA feasibility study on a future agenda so the board can examine the costs, schedule implications and local hiring impacts before awarding large construction contracts.