February 24, 2014

In This Issue

Project Labor Agreement on New Oxnard Union High School District School Increases Cost 20%!

PLA Opponent Wins Mayoral Race in San Diego!

Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction Calls for Public Access to Backroom Union Deal Imposed on Proposed Sacramento Kings Arena

California High Speed Rail Opponents Working to Raise Funds to Fight Project/PLA

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Project Labor Agreement on New Oxnard Union High School District School Increases Cost 20%!

We tried to warn them. We always try and warn them. Most of them listen and refuse to have anything to do with something that will increase their costs. But a few have what can only be described as a canine affection for union boss demands.

Like Oxnard Union High School District.

In November, and out of the blue, three members of the five member school board at Oxnard Union High School District decided that what they needed was something that would make their new Rancho Campana High School more expensive, something that could be achieved by having a Project Labor Agreement placed on it. These three board members Hanson, Hall, and Edmonds voted for the PLA and now their wishes have come true.

The bid results for the new high school are out and (drum roll please) they are.......20% higher than what had been budgeted. That's right, unsurprisingly the high school that had been scheduled to be built for $49 million will now be built for $58.3 million.

We tried to warn them. We always try and warn them.

We will make sure the taxpayers remember in November.

PLA Opponent Wins Mayoral Race in San Diego!

Fair and open competition proponent and Republican City Councilman Kevin Faulconer easily defeated PLA proponent and Democrat City Councilman David Alvarez on February 11th in a race that saw union special interests spend more than $4 million in a losing effort.

This race centered on many issues such as bettering neighborhoods, infrastructure, police response times, pension costs, and homelessness. But the issue of giving preference to union workers has been a key issue in San Diego for more than four years. In 2010 residents in the City of Chula Vista (just south of San Diego) and in the County of San Diego became the first voters anywhere in America to approve bans on Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) by overwhelming margins.

In 2011 and 2012 these were followed by bans in the San Diego County cities of Oceanside, El Cajon, and San Diego proper. Kevin stood with the taxpayers and workers in all of these instances while union bosses found themselves on the wrong end of very lopsided votes. By standing up to union special interests who looked to divide the city Kevin demonstrated then and throughout his campaign for mayor that he would do what was best for the city, not special interests. His opponent, who was almost entirely funded by Big Labor special interests, was never able to distance himself from the perception that he would be simply a tool of the unions.

The merit shop community contributed significantly to Kevin's winning effort and was honored to have Gould Electric's Russ Thurman named to Kevin's transition team.

A good day for freedom, workers, and taxpayers in San Diego!

Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction Calls for Public Access to Backroom Union Deal Imposed on Proposed Sacramento Kings Arena

CFEC has demanded in a press release last week that the Sacramento Kings make public the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) that has supposedly been "agreed" to by the owners and the Building Trade Unions. This document has been kept secret since CFEC forced its existence to be acknowledged late last year.

One can only imagine what embarrassing provisions are contained within the document that seeks to exclude the 80+% of the local construction workforce that is union-free. One way or another we plan to find out exactly what is in it. Stay tuned!

California High Speed Rail Opponents Working to Raise Funds to Fight Project/PLA

With the California High-Speed Rail debacle still wheezing along the main group that has been opposing it is working to bring in the funds needed to keep its legal team in place. Thursday Citizens for California High Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA) and the Kings County Farm Bureau (KCFB) co-hosted a fundraising luncheon/reception to "Protect Agriculture and The Valley."

Special guests included Congressman David Valadao, Assemblyman Frank Bigelow, Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, Assemblywoman Diane Harkey and Assemblyman Jim Patterson. Members of the Proposition 1A Legal Team were also there along with local leaders.

Those who attended the fundraiser had a chance to hear elected officials speak about key issues adversely affecting agriculture in the Central Valley including California High-Speed Rail and water. Attendees also had a chance to personally ask the legislators questions.

A handful of union bosses showed up to remind people of the fact that at least one special interest will be getting something out of this scam, and that's construction labor unions who of course have a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on this project.

The past year has not been kind to supporters of this project as you can read here. We can only hope that 2014 will bring us the end of this terrible idea.

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Whether it is through the use of our emails, weekly newsletters, gatherings, or other tactics we here at CFEC work hard to educate elected officials, business owners, and other entities about the discriminatory and harmful effects of PLAs. We are able to continue these efforts because of the generous support shown to us by our members. Please donate today and help us continue to keep fair and open competition alive. Thank you!

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