Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 6

113 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 6 THE P I PE L INE CONTRACTORS ASSOC I AT ION (PLCA) The technological overhaul brought about by the pandemic has extended beyond communication, however. During 2020, the labor agreements by which the association’s members interacted with their unions expired but new contracts were successfully negotiated using digital platforms. “I think pre-pandemic, in the very early part of 2020, we perhaps had one or two meetings scheduled,” Osborn says. “Subsequently, we had in the neighborhood of 40 to 50 meetings, supported by the use of technology, and I think we showed ourselves that there is a different way of doing things. It worked out well and we were successful in getting three-year agreements with all four crafts, ensuring that we didn’t have any interruption in our work. We also made some great advances in terms of making our members more competitive in the industry. With our labor agreements now in place for the next three years, I think our focus is going to be on advocacy – figuring out ways to support the owner companies, our clients, and trying to get some of these projects approved.” “I think that our labor negotiations were the big achievement of 2020,” Worrell agrees.” But looking at 2021, even though those agreements are behind us, I think the discussions with the unions on how to advance the industry and remain competitive in a crowded marketplace are always ongoing. We have to continually engage with our union partners. It’s a process that’s never finished.” Another focus that will continue into 2021 will be around safety and training. This remains a huge part of the PLCA’s mission and still takes up a sizable proportion of the association’s time and resources. For example, in 2020 the PLCA hosted its inaugural National Pipe Line Conference, a two-day meeting for the industry with one day focused solely on safety and quality issues.