- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Construction Union Launches Campaign Against Port KC Over Wage Dispute
The Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council accuses Port KC of refusing to implement a previous wage agreement.
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A construction union in Kansas City, Missouri is launching a public campaign against Port KC, accusing the authority of breaking a wage agreement reached in August 2025. The agreement called for Port KC construction projects to pay the state's prevailing wage and set minimum apprenticeship requirements, but the union says Port KC has refused to implement the terms.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between labor unions and local authorities over wages and working conditions on public construction projects. The outcome could impact the ability of local workers to access well-paying construction jobs and gain valuable apprenticeship experience.
The details
The Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents over a dozen construction trades in the metro area, says it spent six months pushing Port KC to honor the August 2025 agreement. However, Port KC has refused, according to union leaders. The Council is now launching a banner campaign, with signs appearing at Port KC's office and City Hall.
- The agreement between the Council and Port KC was reached in August 2025.
- The Council says it spent six months trying to get Port KC to implement the agreement.
The players
Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council
A construction union representing over a dozen trades in the Kansas City metro area.
Port KC
A local authority responsible for economic development projects in Kansas City, Missouri.
Jon Stephens
The President and CEO of Port KC.
Kevin O'Neill
A Kansas City Councilman who serves as the Vice-Chair of Port KC's Board of Commissioners.
What they’re saying
“Port KC has two resolutions being considered by our commission which would be transformative and broadly beneficial to labor, workforce and quality jobs in Kansas City. These resolutions directly address concerns about prevailing wage, project labor agreements, workforce and apprenticeship programs.”
— Jon Stephens, Port KC President & CEO (kctv5.com)
What’s next
The two resolutions addressing the union's concerns are pending a future vote by the Port KC Board of Commissioners.
The takeaway
This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring fair wages and working conditions on public construction projects, with unions and local authorities often at odds over the terms of such agreements. The outcome could have significant implications for the ability of local workers to access well-paying construction jobs and gain valuable apprenticeship experience.
