Christie vetoes bill giving unions a leg up in Sandy infrastructure projects

Governor Christie vetoed a measure Monday that would have favored unions workers when rebuilding public infrastructure damaged by superstorm Sandy.

Christie, in his veto message, said the legislation would slow rebuilding in New Jersey at a crucial time.

The bill, sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, would have made major highway and bridge work eligible to be covered by project labor agreements, which set pay and other work conditions that traditionally favor unions.

State and local governments have to approve such agreements for specific projects, and Sweeney’s bill would have expanded their use to some of the largest infrastructure projects in the recovery effort.

Construction jobs have been among the hardest hit in the economic downturn, and an infusion of billions of dollars in federal recovery money is expected to give a boost to the sector.

Unions traditionally support project labor agreements, and Democrats have argued their use could boost employment.

Yet Christie wrote that the bill “would significantly alter public contracting in this State at a time when the swift reconstruction, rebuilding, and redevelopment of public infrastructure is a priority.”  Read more here…