Millions in Federal Transportation Funding Threatened by Washington D.C.
ST. PAUL, Minn. – In response to proposed changes from the federal government that would threaten millions in funding for St. Louis County due to use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) in highway projects, Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) led a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Congressman Pete Stauber opposing any proposed change that would threaten local union jobs in St. Louis County.
“The federal government’s proposal is a nonstarter. The use of Public Labor Agreements in St. Louis County is a long-standing practice that ensures infrastructure projects in our community are built on time, on budget, and to the highest quality using local skilled union labor,” said Senator Hauschild. “This proposed change is anti-labor, anti-worker, and anti-local workforce, period. It is time for this Administration to change course and support local union labor.”
All legislators of St. Louis County were invited to sign on, but it was only co-signed by fellow DFLers Senator Jen McEwen, Representative Liish Kozlowski, and Representative Pete Johnson. The letter reads in part:
Project Labor Agreements are a long-standing and proven standard across Northern Minnesota. They ensure that major infrastructure projects are completed by highly skilled local workers, uphold fair wages and safe working conditions, and support the union contractors who have built and sustained our region’s economy for generations. These agreements are not theoretical. They are practical tools that deliver quality results on time and on budget while strengthening local communities.
The current federal posture places local governments in an unacceptable position. Communities like St. Louis County are being forced to choose between maintaining their commitment to local labor and fair standards, or forfeiting essential federal transportation funding. That is not a real choice. It is a direct challenge to the values and economic foundations of our region.
We reject the premise that communities should have to abandon Project Labor Agreements to access federal resources. Federal transportation funding should support strong local economies, not undermine them. Penalizing the use of PLAs effectively punishes regions like ours that prioritize workforce standards, apprenticeship opportunities, and family-supporting jobs.
A full copy of the letter is attached.
###
Learn more about Sen. Hauschild.
