WENATCHEE — Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Executive Order 25-07 on Tuesday requiring Project Labor Agreements on construction projects costing more than $35 million during the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council Conference in Wenatchee.

Project Labor Agreements, or PLAs, as defined by the executive order, are collective bargaining agreements that outline the terms and conditions of employment for specific projects.

According to Ferguson, PLAs can improve working conditions by preventing wage theft and ensuring fair compensation, decreasing work stoppages through no-strike/no-lockout provisions and grievance-arbitration procedures, and encouraging diversity in the construction workforce.

“There’s only one other state that has such a progressive policy,” Ferguson said. “I

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