Times of San Diego: San Diego Mayor Signs Project Labor Agreement for City-Funded Construction into Law

City News Service, Times of San Diego

With a nod toward union workers, Mayor Todd Gloria Wednesday signed into law legislation allowing for an overarching project labor agreement with local labor organizations for most city-funded construction projects.

“Today represents a historic moment for workers and working families in San Diego,” Gloria said. “This project labor agreement will ensure good- paying, local jobs for San Diegans and ensure the dollars we spend on construction projects goes back into their pockets, which will help power our regional economy for years to come.”

The San Diego City Council gave its final approval to the ordinance Tuesday morning — made possible by the passage of 2022’s Measure D, reversing a 10-year-old ban on project labor agreements for city construction projects.

PLAs are “pre-hire collective bargaining agreements negotiated between construction unions and construction contractors that establish the terms and conditions of employment for construction projects,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

“Project labor agreements help the city of San Diego build major infrastructure projects on time, on budget, and in a way that benefits our local workers and economy,” Councilman Raul Campillo said. “In 2022, I spearheaded the city’s move to put Measure D on the ballot because it was long past time that we got rid of San Diego’s outdated ban on project labor agreements.”

The law signed Wednesday is intended to build on past PLAs in other cities, which can make it difficult for smaller construction companies to compete with large firms. It will go into effect for prime contracts and subcontracts for “covered projects” — defined as those with an estimated construction contract value of at least $5 million in the first two years of the ordinance and a contract value of $1 million or more thereafter — on July 1.

“The San Diego Building Trades, our 22 affiliated unions and over 35,000 active members are excited to enter into a programmatic project labor agreement with the city of San Diego,” said Carol Kim, business manager of the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council. “This project labor agreement is a major win for San Diegans that ensures reliable, high-quality work on capital improvement projects throughout the city.

“It also secures good, sustainable careers for thousands of local workers that will help protect and grow our economy through good times and lean times,” Kim said.

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