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LA’s Redevelopment Agency Passes Trail-Blazing Construction Policy
After hearing a broad range of testimony, the Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) governing board approved a landmark policy requiring publicly-subsidized projects to hire more local and “at risk” residents from the communities in which the projects are built. The policy also requires these projects to be party to a Project Labor Agreement to ensure the projects create middle class, union jobs.
LAANE joined the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and its allies in rallying over 100 workers, activists and clergy at the February 21st meeting of the CRA.
Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year in Los Angeles’ commercial construction industry. However, underserved communities historically see very little value from this investment – and their residents rarely benefit from the jobs accompanying the projects.
“Much too often, the benefits of public construction subsidies are never felt by the communities they’re intended to revitalize,” said Rev. Thembekila Coleman-Smart, a community organizer with LAANE.
In an effort to reverse these trends, LAANE worked extensively with CRA staff to develop the Construction Career and Project Stabilization Policy, and helped to develop broad-based community support to ensure its approval.
In advance of the meeting, the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education released "Helping L.A. Grow Together: Why the Community Redevelopment Agency Should Adopt the Construction Careers Policy." The report evaluates the policy, while focusing particularly on the relationship of a Project Labor Agreement to successful Local Hire Programs. Typically, Project Labor Agreements are project-specific agreements whereby developers agree to hire primarily through Building Trade Council union hiring halls in exchange for “labor peace.” The Construction Careers and Project Stabilization Policy would establish a template agreement for all CRA-subsidized projects that meet certain financial criteria.
“Our research shows, quite simply, that unions are more successful at recruiting, training and graduating individuals from low-income communities, people of color and women than non-union contractors,” said Kent Wong, Executive Director of the UCLA Labor Center.
The Board also heard from workers who have transformed their lives and built careers through construction union apprenticeship programs.
“When I came into the union, I had no prior knowledge of construction or what the ironworking trade was,” said Eric Robinson, an apprentice ironworker. “Now I’ve been in it for a year and a half and I’m a licensed and certified welder…because the union took me on. At the same time, I am also helping to redevelop my neighborhood by taking my paycheck and spending the dollars in the community.”
The next step for the policy is a likely hearing before the Los Angeles City Council’s Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee. Then the policy must be approved by the full City Council.
LAANE Executive Director Madeline Janis, a member of the CRA board, recused herself from the vote due to the important work undertaken by LAANE staff on the policy.
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