A recent Obama executive order that promotes the use of project labor agreements for large federal construction projects is generating some concern among nonunion workers, particularly women and minorities. Project labor agreements establish the terms and conditions of labor for projects and are typically negotiated with unions. As a result, union representatives often represent employees on a project regardless of their union status, and non-members are usually required to pay union dues for the duration of such a project. Many believe the requirement will in turn favor union workers, and organized construction workers tend to be white- males. Women and minorities are thus concerned they will be left out of large government stimulus projects without special provisions to include them.
See "Women, minorities fear being left out of stimulus projects", Tony Pugh, The Miami Herald, March 26, 2009