It’s Out in the Open: Project Labor Agreement a Costly Possibility for San Diego Convention Center Expansion
The Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction (CFEC) held a press conference on February 22 to oppose the rumored plan to require contractors to sign a project labor agreement (PLA) to work on construction of the proposed $700 million San Diego Convention Center Expansion. Accompanied by more than 50 construction workers, the organization unveiled its […]
People vs. Unions: Struggling for Open Competition in California
FOX News’ Special Report with Bret Baier is the latest to cover the grassroots effort to bring quality and accountability to taxpayer-funded construction by preventing the use of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) in California. Here is the video from the July 21 edition of Special Report: The FOX News Liveshots blog also covered this […]
Chula Vista and Oceanside Reject Big Labor Handouts: Proposition G and Measure K Overwhelmingly Approved
Voters in Chula Vista, Calif., and Oceanside, Calif., approved ballot initiatives that prohibit local entities from requiring project labor agreements (PLAs) on city-funded construction projects. Chula Vista and Oceanside join the City of Fresno, Orange County and San Diego County in prohibiting PLAs on locally funded work. These two initiatives mark the first time voters […]
The Inspiration for Proposition G in Chula Vista: San Diego Union Greenmail Against the San Diego Padres, Independent Power Companies, High Rise Developers, and Gaylord Entertainment
On May 27, KNSD Channel 7/39 News in San Diego (an NBC affiliate) showed a three-minute story on Proposition G, the voter initiative on the June 8 ballot in the City of Chula Vista to prohibit the city from entering into contracts that require contractors to sign project labor agreements (PLAs). The story was also […]
San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board: We endorse Proposition G
In a May 8 editorial (“Vote Yes on G in Chula Vista,” May 8), the San Diego Union-Tribune urged Chula Vista voters to support Proposition G, which would prohibit wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreements (PLAs) on city funded construction projects. Proposition G is on the ballot on June 8, although mail-in voting is scheduled […]
Construction Trades Seize Greenmail Advantage
In an April 27 commentary titled, “Construction Trades Seize Greenmail Advantage with Vengeance,” published by The Daily Transcript in San Diego, former ABC San Diego chapter president George Hawkins reminds the public about one of Big Labor’s favorite tools for securing project labor agreements (PLAs) in California: greenmail. Here are the highlights: “Greenmail,” the idea of threatening to […]
San Diego: “Greenmail” Scrubs New Year’s Fireworks
Sensing that 2010 might be a tough year for Big Labor and their special interest allies in San Diego area, it appears that local union bosses are not in the mood to celebrate. And they decided to ruin the fun for everyone else too. Here is an excerpt from Michael M. Rosen’s commentary published in […]
Citizens of Chula Vista Will Vote on Fair and Open Competition Ordinance
The ABC San Diego Chapter announced on August 14 that the San Diego County Registrar of Voters had determined there were enough signatures for a Fair and Open Competition Ordinance voter initiative to qualify for the June 8, 2010 ballot. This ordinance would ensure that all responsible and capable contractors would be encouraged to bid […]
Gaming the System: California’s Environmental Laws Are Pivotal to Unions Winning Project Labor Agreements from Private Developers
In California, Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) are the primary tactic used by construction unions to gain market share in the industry. And PLAs are not confined to public works projects. Particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sacramento area, the City of Los Angeles, and the San Diego area, private developers have been signing […]