As California goes, so goes the nation.
Cleveland, Ohio, has now joined two California cities, and the federal government, in requiring project labor agreements (PLA) for infrastructure projects.
- Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb signed an executive order in September requiring labor unions on all infrastructure projects exceeding $500,000. This comes as the city prepares to invest billions in waterfront developments and other projects.
- San Diego, California: The city of San Diego reached a seven-year PLA with local construction unions, applying to all city projects over $1 million. This union-friendly PLA from July will soon govern every major city project.
- San Francisco, California: The city directed the negotiation of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the San Francisco Building Construction Trades Council to cover citywide projects in 2019.
In December 2023, Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su announced a federal policy requiring PLAs for major construction contracts, exceeding $35 million, on behalf of President Biden. This move, revealed in Cleveland, inspired Bibb’s administration to adopt a similar approach for the city’s public projects.
“When the city builds big projects, we want to make sure that we’re doing it right,” Bibb said. “PLAs help set the standards for wages, benefits, and working conditions, ensuring that workers in Cleveland are treated with the respect they deserve.”
By requiring PLAs, these cities aim to create a steady flow of good-paying work that also supports training opportunities for local workers. This, in turn, can help address labor shortages and ensure the success of critical infrastructure projects, Bibb added.
“PLAs boost our workforce through local hiring and recruiting goals. This includes apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship job training programs that establish a pathway to family-sustaining careers in construction,” concluded Dave Wondolowski, executive secretary and business manager of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council.