Binghamton Okays Project Labor Agreement

Binghamton City Council is giving the okay, narrowly, to a project labor agreement favoring local labor unions for work on the Binghamton/Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant.

The PLA passed in a vote of 4 to 3.  The ‘yes’ votes came from the four Democrats on Council.

Republican Minority Leader Chris Papastrat says the PLA will open the city to lawsuits and could delay the renovations which might result in fines for not meeting environmental regulations at the plant.

Non-union contractors objected to the agreement as well.  They said the PLA is unfair to non union contractors and workers and discourages them from bidding for large projects by requiring a certain number of union workers be hired for the job.

Supporters said the agreement guarantees local labor is used on the project instead of awarding a contract to an out-of-state firm.

The sewage plant, which is jointly owned by Binghamton and Johnson City has been out of compliance with Department of Environmental Conservation discharge guidelines since the 2011 flood and could be fined daily if improvements are not made.

Since the plant on Vestal Road is jointly owned by the two municipalities, the Johnson City Village Board must also approve the PLA.