The Sweetwater Union High School District’s bond oversight committee sent a letter last Friday to the school board asking for a four-month moratorium before it negotiates a project labor agreement with the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council that could affect projects built by Prop. O.
At September’s school board meeting, board members voted 4-0 in favor of negotiating a project labor agreement. Vice President Nick Segura recused himself because he works with union electricians.
A project labor agreement is an agreement between a government agency and a union for a construction project.
Supporters say a project labor agreement will hire local builders with high quality work. Those opposed argue that it takes away from fair and open competition with bidding on construction projects.
The Citizens Bond Oversight Committee said the school board should have sent the resolution to the committee so they can examine whether a project labor agreement would be financially suitable for the district.
“The (school) board just said we’re entering into negotiations without really involving the bond committee at all and making the decision to move forward,” said Nick Marinovich, chairman of the CBOC. “And so what we’re saying is before you enter in negotiations and spend resources, let’s step back and take a look at what are the issues of project labor agreements, both positive and negative.”
Trustee Paula Hall brought the resolution to negotiate a project labor agreement forward. Hall said she has been having issues with her email so she didn’t get a chance to read the CBOC’s letter for a moratorium, but is aware of their concerns from them speaking out at previous board meetings.
Hall said the board never sent the item to the CBOC because there is no information for them to look over as the board only passed a resolution.
“There’s nothing to review,” she said. “There is no project labor agreement negotiated.”
Marinovich said while it is true there is no project labor agreement negotiated, he said the board is saying they believe in project labor agreements without the CBOC’s input.
Marinovich said if the CBOC were to look at a project labor agreement, the school board does not have to take the committee’s recommendations.
“The board is the policy maker,” he said. “Our role is just to inform the public whether we think it’s right or not.”
Marinovich said the CBOC just wants to analyze if entering into a project labor agreement makes financial sense for the district.
“In essence the committee is saying that before you enter into negotiations for a project labor agreement, you need to step back, slow down and assess the overall program,” he said. “What is the advantage of a PLA? What does it add to the process?”
