Governor Maura Healey on Tuesday signed an executive order to boost the use of so-called project labor agreements by state agencies for large public works construction projects.
The move, which puts the state in line with policies set in a sweeping economic development bill Healey signed into law last year, is a boon to the state’s powerful unions; supporters say the change will lower costs to taxpayers.
The order Healey signed mirrors language from a section of the law, which would authorize local governments and state agencies to enter into project labor agreements, which often require a project use unionized labor only.
It requires executive department agencies to review public works construction projects with estimated construction costs over $35 million to determine if a project labor agreement is in the best interest of the project, workers, and community.
“There are so many critical construction projects underway all across the state —upgrading our roads and bridges, improving infrastructure for small businesses and more,” Healey said in a statement. “We know that it’s really important that these projects are set up for success.”
Healey signed the order Tuesday morning at the Massachusetts Building Trades 106th Annual Convention in Springfield.
In a statement, Frank Callahan, president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Union, said the order “will make a huge impact on the quality of life” for construction workers.
“Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves the opportunity to earn good wages and benefits under good and safe working conditions,” he said.
Chrissy Lynch, president of the powerful Massachusetts AFL-CIO echoed the sentiment.
The agreements “guarantee good wages and benefits, safe working conditions, and sustained investment in the local economy,” she said.
In a statement, Healey’s office cited a 2022 study that found that these agreements lower costs of construction projects. Her office also pointed to an analysis published earlier this month that found that the agreements increased competition and helped lower costs for taxpayers.
However, those who represent non-union contractors say their workers are effectively excluded without a cause.
“Every day, every week, month, and year in the Commonwealth there are hundreds of state projects that are being completed succcessfully with a mix of union aned non-union contractors,” said Greg Beeman, president of the Massachusetts chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors.
He called the executive order “a solution in search of a problem.”
“Why do we need this?” he said. “When you put a requirement in place . . . effectively the result is the non-union contractors don’t bid those jobs and limit the labor pool. How is that in the best interest of the Commonwealth?”
Samantha J. Gross can be reached at samantha.gross@globe.com. Follow her @samanthajgross.