Gov. Chet Culver this morning was scheduled to sign Executive Order 22, which will require all state departments and agencies to consider using project labor agreements on large-scale construction projects, Iowapolitics.com reported. Culver said project labor agreements will provide structure and stability, promote efficient, on-time completion and ensure the highest standards and most reasonable costs on the projects.

Project labor agreements have been controversial in Iowa. Such an agreement was reached in 2002 between Polk County and local labor unions for construction of the Iowa Events Center. It guaranteed favorable wages and working conditions in exchange for no work stoppages.

Polk County was sued by right-to-work supporters who claimed that the use of a project-labor agreement on a public project violated Iowa’s right-to-work laws. The lawsuit halted construction for several months, but the Iowa Supreme Court eventually ruled in Polk County’s favor.

The president of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council this morning praised the move toward project labor agreements, while leaders of Iowa’s construction industry pointed to a study showing that the agreement used with the Iowa Events Center didn’t save the taxpayers any money.

“The only thing a (project labor agreement) is going to do is cost taxpayers more money,” said Dave Petersen, board vice chairman for the Associated Builders & Contractors of Iowa, in an interview with IowaPolitics.com.

Petersen said the only reason Culver is signing the executive order is to avoid legislative action because he hasn’t fulfilled his obligation to the labor unions who helped get him elected. Attempts at passing four bills that are priorities for labor unions — choice of doctor, prevailing wage, fair share and an expansion of collective bargaining — have been unsuccessful.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors is also considering a project labor agreement for some flood recovery projects, and the Associated Builders & Contractors of Iowa is opposing that as well.