A group of non-union sheet metal contractors has settled a lawsuit against the Massachusetts Board of Examiners of Sheet Metal Workers arguing that proposed industry regulations would have increased construction costs and favored union contractors.
The Coalition for Fair Licensing, one of the lead plaintiffs in the case said the settlement requires the board to clarify policies on liability standards for contractors and rules that require multiple experienced sheet metal workers for each apprentice on a job site.
The settlement also calls for the board to count certain education and experience toward the 750 hours of classroom instruction and five years of on-the-job training required to earn a journeyman’s license.
The coalition also argued that the makeup of the board was skewed toward unions, but the court ruled that the argument was outside its responsibility. The coalition said it has asked Attorney General Martha Coakley to “look into the matter.”
The statute requiring the licensing of sheet metal workers was signed into law in 2008. The board was appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick last year.
