BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- With work set to begin soon on the Binghamton-Johnson City Sewage treatment facility, bidding is still on open the nearly $200 million budgeted project, and that brought tension Wednesday to Binghamton City Council.
Nautilus Consulting has recommended a Project Labor Agreement, or PLA. The reports given to the council claim the city could save more than $5 1/2 million with a PLA, which sets specific employment terms for a construction job.
Local contractors were not happy. They say a PLA favors union bidders and would cut competition.
Luciano Piccirilli, CEO of PiccirillI-Slavik and Vincent Plumbing & Heating, says a PLA would force companies to use union workers rather than their own laborers.
"The Project Labor Agreement would eliminate competition, add costs to the project and add delays to this project," Piccirilli said. "It eliminates competition by, most non-union contractors such as myself would not be bidding on this project because I don't want to convert my company from a non-union to a union contracting company."
The Binghamton City Council will decide on Nov. 4 if they'll approve a PLA.