In early March, trustees of the State Center Community College District passed a resolution to adopt a district-wide Project Labor Agreement for all of its major construction projects.

In predicable fashion, the Associated Builders and Contractors, a lobbyist group for low-wage construction contractors, claimed that PLAs will increase costs, exclude local workers, and hurt students pursuing trades. The truth, however, is that these criticisms are based on misleading political narratives that purposely fail to acknowledge the clear benefits PLAs offer to our schools and community.

First, the assertion that PLAs drive up costs and cause delays is categorically false. Dozens of independent studies show that PLAs actually reduce construction delays and budget overruns. A 2017 report by the Economic Policy Institute found that PLAs contribute to more efficient construction outcomes by ensuring a skilled, well-trained workforce and strict project management. By establishing clear labor standards and reducing disputes, PLAs help keep projects on track, saving taxpayers money and ensuring that projects are completed on time.

PLAs Don’t Shut Out Local Workers

The ABC also claims that PLAs shut out local workers. Again, completely false. PLAs prioritize hiring accredited, journeyman construction workers and always include provisions that ensure local workers are given priority, provided they meet required skill standards.

PLAs with school districts generally include additional provisions creating pathways for students of those districts to enter the trades and work on district-funded projects. The ABC’s argument ignores the fact that the primary function of a PLA is to mandate that workers have the necessary skills, safety training, and pay standards to complete the highest quality of work.

It’s also important to note that the ABC’s arguments against PLAs are driven by self-interest. The ABC, which represents non-union contractors, stands to lose ground in a competitive bidding process because PLAs ensure project standards and worker qualifications that their contractors generally can’t meet. And while they claim to advocate for local workers, the ABC is actually a statewide lobbyist group, and their objections are clearly rooted in a political agenda that disregards the long-term benefits PLAs offer to the local community.

This Wasn’t a Backroom Deal

Additionally, the ABC’s attack on the trustees’ decision — calling it a “backroom deal” and accusing trustees of political maneuvering — is a critique rooted in political bias rather than facts. The decision to pursue a PLA was made after much public discussion, and the board followed all district procedures. To suggest that the board’s decision was a political payoff to “special interests” ignores two key facts.

One, SCCCD just recently utilized a PLA for the construction of its West Fresno campus, and it was a major success. And two, PLAs are widely used for public construction projects across California in dozens of school districts with no evidence supporting political maneuvering or the rest of the ABC’s predicable rhetoric.

The decision to adopt a PLA was a responsible, forward-thinking move that benefits both students and taxpayers. By ensuring that all major construction projects are managed efficiently and with a skilled workforce, the trustees are maximizing the impact of your taxpayer dollars. The four trustees that voted yes on this new district standard deserve our gratitude.

About the Author

Dillon Savory is the executive director of the Central Labor Council.

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