We are only 30 days into 2017 and we already have had five Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) come up for consideration with a number of others popping up on future calendars!
It's going to be a busy year.
Educational
Palmdale School District: Having passed an $80 million school construction bond in November this Southern California school District, only 25 miles east of Los Angeles, is a prime PLA target as was evidenced by their holding a PLA workshop on January 17th. Interestingly only PLA proponents were allowed to make a presentation. CFEC representative Kevin Korenthal did demand the ability to speak during public comments, which he was allowed to do. CFEC has been promised that "equal time" will be given to PLA opponents, which we will hold them to.
Marin College:Also expected to be discussed on January 17th was a PLA for the College of Marin's new construction bond. Due to a flood of emails and questions that were directed to the Board of Trustees, the agenda item was pulled and moved to a future date. Stay tuned for more information and be ready to let this board know your thoughts regarding PLAs soon!
Santa Rosa Junior College: A "Study Session" on PLAs will be held by the Santa Rosa Junior College Board of Trustees on Tuesday, March 14th at 1:30 p.m. Details are still being worked out and we will keep you updated. The college passed a $410 million bond in November of 2014. CFEC and our allies have been successful in keeping this District PLA-free for almost 15 years and we look to continue that streak. Stay tuned!
County
Santa Clara County: On January 24, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously (on consent) for a standard Project Labor Agreement for five years for all projects exceeding $2 million.
Monterey County: A union organizer from the IBEW spoke on January 25 at a special city council meeting in the City of Monterey requesting the City Council to support unspecified language in the foundational document of the Monterey Bay Community Power Joint Powers Agency about "local jobs." He said that the unions were working with certain members of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to insert this language. They of course want to use the new Joint Powers Agency to require all energy developers and contractors to sign a PLA with unions as a condition of getting contracts. Stay tuned!
Cities
City of San Jose: On January 24th there was a meeting of the City of San Jose Community Workforce Agreements/Project Labor Agreement (CWA/PLA) Task Force. The Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce aka The Silicon Valley Organization is a task force member opposed to PLAs, and Associated General Contractors of California is also a task force member. Eric Christen and Nicole Goehring also attended and spoke out against PLAs. According to staff this process will take approximately 5 months before anything goes to the City Council. Stay tuned!
