Cleveland 19: Cleveland’s mayor signs historic policy change that will benefit labor unions by securing more jobs

Michelle Nicks, Cleveland 19

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb makes it official. Signing off on a commitment from the city to local labor unions on what’s referred to as a PLA or Project Labor Agreement.

Mayor Bibb signed the new city policy with news cameras rolling and while speaking at the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 18 on Prospect Avenue in Cleveland.

The historic executive order means that local labor unions will be awarded a fair share of the economic pie according to Mayor Bibb, “It just guarantees that we make sure that the unions are a part of all the critical infrastructure projects that we’re creating in our city. Projects over a half million dollars or more. We need more folks that can be carpenters, electricians, plumbers, lay brick and concrete, you name it. That’s why that $ 10-million investment we made in our workforce development training is so important, especially for young people across the city.”

Dave Wondolowski is the Executive Secretary of the Cleveland Building Trades Council, “Anytime we’re creating policies like this we’re able to build a pipeline of work that’s going to be sustainable to bring more workers into the trades. We need people everywhere, and the volume of work we’re faced with in Northeast Ohio is unprecedented.”

Wondolowski says local labor unions have been working on the Cleveland Clinic 3 that includes building two new research centers on the main campus. It’s work that over a four year period will employ 1500 workers.

A job fair was held at the union hall following the announcement and those interested in the building trades learned that can make a starting wage of between $20 and $25, and with benefits they can earn up to $60 to $70 an hour.|

The Cleveland Builds program can provide more information about the apprentice programs, and the best part according to Wondolowski, “You get paid while you work. So you earn while you learn.”

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