White House considers pro-labor policy for government contractors

White House considers pro-labor policy for government contractors
By Gautham Nagesh - The Daily Caller 02/04/10 at 2:47 am


The Obama administration is considering a proposal that would heavily favor government contractors that implement policies designed by organized labor.

The “High Road Contracting Policy” would give preference to companies that adopt practices above and beyond existing labor laws. Multiple sources have confirmed the discussions, which are part of the White House’s attempt to spur economic growth through procurement reform and are driven by the Center for American Progress and the Service Employees International Union.

The proposal would advantage contractors that provide hourly workers with a “living wage”, health insurance, an employer-funded retirement plan and paid sick days. Contracting officers would weigh a company’s labor policies as a criteria for awarding the contract, along with the standard metrics: price, past performance and the ability to meet the contract’s requirements.

As part of the implementation, the Department of Labor would be responsible for collecting and scoring the labor records of all federal contractors, giving the department an unprecedented amount of influence in deciding who receives federal contracts. Each agency would be required to establish a labor advocate, who would have the discretion to increase a bidder’s labor score based on the company’s commitment to implementing the new labor standards. Professional Services Council Vice President Alan Chvotkin said such an arrangement would effectively make the Department of Labor the gatekeeper to the $523 billion federal marker.

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http://dailycaller.com/2010/02/04/white-house-considers-pro-labor-policy-for-government-contractors/

What a novel notion. Exactly why isn't every worker in this country behind pro-labor movements?