Josh Siegel has rolled out a sweeping governing blueprint that includes a clear commitment to using project labor agreements on public works projects.
According to a report in The Morning Call (read the original coverage here), Siegel’s 33-page “Transition Strategy & Priorities” document lays out six focus areas, including human services, housing, economic development, public safety and labor.
Buried in a broader conversation about infrastructure and competitiveness is a notable pledge: tying public works projects to project labor agreements to help ensure they are completed on time and with minimal conflict.
Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel outlines a governing strategy that includes using project labor agreements on public infrastructure projects.
“There is no excuse not to make sure that our public works projects are utilizing local labor and we are creating a new middle class generation of trades professionals,” Siegel said.
Under the proposal, county projects ranging from airport upgrades to school renovations would utilize local union labor through PLAs.
For readers unfamiliar with the structure, a project labor agreement is a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement that sets wages, benefits, work rules and dispute resolution procedures before construction begins. Learn more about how they work at WhatIsApla.com.
Why this matters beyond Lehigh County
When local governments adopt PLAs, they create predictable labor costs, prevent work stoppages and open access to highly trained workers. Research from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute shows union labor delivers measurable productivity and cost advantages on public projects (see the study here).
For contractors, that means clarity. For taxpayers, that means accountability. For skilled trades workers, that means stable, middle-class careers.
Siegel framed his approach as part of a broader effort to make the county competitive and livable, arguing that public investment in infrastructure, housing and workforce development must work together.
“You now work where you want to live,” he said.
As counties across the country grapple with housing shortages, workforce challenges and infrastructure backlogs, Lehigh County’s governing plan signals that labor standards and project stability will be central to its strategy.
Related guide: Project labor agreements in Pennsylvania: what the law permits
