1. CWA’s: DEVELOPING OUR COMMUNITIES
LA / OC BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL

2. OVERVIEW Prevailing wage Public works projects
Why Community Workforce Agreements?
Questions?

3. DEFINING PREVAILING WAGE
Prevailing wage rates are recognized by state and federal government for workers on public construction projects.
Rates are set based on the pay of the greatest number of employees in a specific occupation, in a specific geographic area.
Prevailing wages are codified in state and federal law.
In California, this is done by the Department of Industrial Relations.

4. DEFINING PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS
Paid for with public funds, in whole or in part
Can be construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair
Done under a contract
Always at prevailing wage (with or without a CWA)

5. WHY WORK WITH UNIONS?
We build efficiently and safely: doing it right the first time
The only means to true local hire and veteran preference
We “work ourselves out of a job,” with competitive timelines and quality for our contractors
No seniority in our agreements
We invest $200M in apprenticeship training each year in California alone
All public works projects are prevailing wage: get your constituents the benefits!

6. BUILDING TRADES APPRENTICESHIPS
Preparing the Next Generation of Construction Workers through Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committees (JATCs)
Classroom instruction + on-the-job learning for 3-5 years
Registered with the national Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship and the State’s Department of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS)
Funded by Building Trades men and women, and contractor partners-- over $1B invested annually
1600+ training centers in US, plus partnerships with high schools and community colleges
93% of the State Certified Apprenticeship Programs in Construction graduates come from Building Trades programs
Provides a path to middle-class careers, at no cost to taxpayers

7. MULTI-CRAFT CORE CURRICULUM (MC3)
The Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) is developed by North America’s Building Trades Unions
It is intended for apprenticeship-readiness classes in high schools, community colleges and community based organizations, and covers topics related to Building Trades careers
The goals of the NABTU apprenticeship readiness programs are to increase the number of qualified candidates for apprenticeship across all crafts; to increase the diversity of apprenticeship candidates by recruiting women, communities of color, veterans and out of school youth; and to increase retention.

8. DEFINING COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENTS
A CWA is a type of pre-hire agreement negotiated between project owners and the local Building Trades that covers working conditions and standards for construction projects, as well as how to resolve any issues that might come up.
At its core, it is a contract between the Owner/Agency and Unions to work in partnership to build a project.

9. IMPACTS of CWA’s for COMMUNITY for OWNERS/DEVELOPERS + CONTRACTORS
local hire & community outreach
women, veteran, and minority representation
supports local economy
mentorship and job opportunities
for OWNERS/DEVELOPERS + CONTRACTORS
builds relationships and goodwill in community
stability & efficiency in project process
labor harmony: no strikes or disruptions
protects budget and schedule of project
risk management
political partnership

10. ELEMENTS of CWA’s Labor Relations Labor Compliance/Certified Payroll
efficient dispute resolution that does not impact project
dramatically reduce risk of delay and cost overruns
Labor Compliance/Certified Payroll
guarantee a highly-skilled and trained workforce
ensure workers receive fair pay, health and retirement benefits, and safe working conditions
Local Hire/Community Outreach
career training opportunities through apprenticeship programs
provide a continuous and immediate boost to the local economy

11. CWA’s: Things To Know CWA’s are...
used on public and private projects of all different sizes
used throughout the life of a project
often include modernization, maintenance and repair.
A CWA is collectively bargained to establish work rules, dispute resolution processes, and meet the unique needs of the project.
PLA’s were first used on big public works projects in the 1930s (e.g. Hoover Dam, Grand Coulee Dam). Since then, projects across the US have been built using PLA’s.
CWA’s are the only labor agreements that provide local and veteran preference hire.

12. Questions from Non-Union Contractors about Community Workforce Agreements
Q. Will I have to pay higher wages because of the CWA?
A. No. Prevailing wage is required on Public Works Construction in CA, including Cities. (Charter Cities that do not require PW rates are excluded from receiving State funds for projects.) The wages required in the CWA including benefits, equal the prevailing wage.
Q. Will I have to become a signatory to the Union?
A. No. On City Projects cover by a CWA, a contractor is required to sign a letter of assent agreeing to be bond by the CWA for only that specific project.
Q. I heard that it will increase my cost because I will have to pay the Union? Is this true?
A. No. The benefit payments are made to trust funds on behalf of the employee and are already included in the prevailing wage rate. There is a tax savings as benefit payments are not subject to payroll taxes. Union dues are paid out of the employees wage for representation.

13. Questions from Non-Union Contractors about Community Workforce Agreements
Q. Manpower is getting hard to find, will the Union be able to provide trained manpower?
A. For many decades local Building Trades Unions have been providing a skilled and trained workforce. The CWA will give you access to their highly trained membership. Since the recession, local Building Trades Apprenticeship programs have over doubled the number of apprentices being trained. These local programs are approaching 15,000 apprentices in LA and OC.
Q. Will I be allowed to use my key employees on these projects?
A. Core employees are allowed to work on CWA covered projects to the requirements negotiated in the CWA.
Q. Will my employees have to join the Union?
A. No. Eligible core employees will only have to register at the appropriate Union Hall, prior to their first day on the project.

14. Questions from Non-Union Contractors about Community Workforce Agreements
Q. Do I have to use core employees?
A. No. You may request all of your needed work force from the Local Union.
Q. What if the Union sends a worker who I don’t feel is qualified or that I don’t need?
A. The contractor shall have the right to determine competency of all employees, the number of employees required and shall have the sole responsibility for selecting employees to be laid off.
Q. Will my company be less likely to be awarded projects at the City if it is non-union? Will the Union have influence in the process?
A. No. The City and/or Contractors, as appropriate, have the absolute right to award through competitive bidding or other delivery method to any contractor with or without any Union contract. Unions are not involved in selection.

15. QUESTIONS? Chris Hannan channan@laocbuildingtrades.org 213-483-4222
LA / OC BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL