Mayor Todd Gloria inked a landmark project labor agreement into law on Wednesday, ushering in a new era for most City-funded construction projects in San Diego. Backed by an overwhelming voter mandate through Measure D last November, which overturned a decade-old ban, the citywide PLA is set to become a game-changer for the local labor force.
The ordinance, given the green light by the City Council just one day prior, vows to deliver City projects on time and within budget, bankrolling a dependable source of skilled labor. The move is anticipated to quickly boost the local economy by ensuring that dollars spent on construction flow back into the pockets of San Diegans. "This project labor agreement will ensure good-paying, local jobs for San Diegans," Gloria stated in a San Diego government announcement.
Project labor agreements (PLAs) are not without their champions, as Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su underscored the national impact, "PLAs provide workers with equitable pathways into jobs with guaranteed good wages, and businesses benefit from this consistent supply of a local, well-trained, and highly skilled workforce." According to the same announcement, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler expressed her approval, lauding Mayor Gloria's and the City Council's unanimous move, set to bolster labor rights and spike the city's economic equity.
Amidst the celebrations of this legislative milestone, Councilmember Raul Campillo, who played a pivotal role to actively put Measure D on the ballot, emphasized the practical advantages of PLAs. These agreements are designed to rigorously deliver major infrastructure projects not just in time, but also on budget, benefiting both local workers and the broader economy. "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," Campillo told the City of San Diego.
Local reaction to the agreement has largely mirrored this sentiment. Jesse Garcia, lead representative of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, praised the step forward in creating "stable, long-term, middle-class careers for local families." Various City Council members, including Sean Elo-Rivera and Stephen Whitburn, also celebrated the agreement for its promise of worker safety, dignity and its economic stimulant effect by reinforcing the link between local jobs and the city's economic vitality, as quoted in the official announcement.
San Diego's quest for a sustainable middle class has found its footing in this agreement. With over 35,000 active union members awaiting the impact of a city steeped in solidarity, the hope is that this citywide PLA becomes not just policy, but a new chapter in the annals of worker rights and economic justice for San Diego. City Attorney Mara Elliott's words in the government announcement echo this hope, "Union jobs are the gateway to the middle class for many families."
