SNIPS News reports the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA), supported by more than 3,500 Construction Firms engaged in industrial, commercial, residential, architectural and specialty sheet metal and air conditioning construction throughout the U.S., is applauding the final rule issued by the Biden Administration, designed to address the skilled workforce crisis shortage by requiring private developers to comply with Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship requirements on Federal projects.  The Biden Administration’s "long overdue" regulatory actions were taken to address a workforce skills crisis and shortage due almost entirely to the "predictable and avoidable result of intentional underinvestment in skill and workforce quality over decades."  SMACNA has long championed nearly identical “high road” workforce quality enhancements the IRA now has enacted across the Construction Industry, especially for Registered Apprenticeships.  SMACNA Chief Executive Officer Aaron Hilger said: “This updated rule will help ensure large-scale Federal projects are completed professionally and timely, while also supporting high skilled and high paying jobs.  Importantly, PWAs level the playing field by allowing all Union and Non-Union Contractors to bid using the same high quality workforce standards.  These necessary new construction rules were needed to counter a skill shortage created by too many industry firms and organizations badly shortchanging the industry’s obvious workforce needs for decades, not political calculations.” 

To Read This Apprenticeship And Training Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: SMACNA Supports 'Long Overdue' Workforce Quality and Skill Training Requirements on Federal IRA Projects | ACHR News