The City of Los Angeles Project Labor Agreement: An Overview
If you`re a contractor or construction company looking to work on projects in the City of Los Angeles, you`ll want to be familiar with the city`s Project Labor Agreement (PLA). This agreement sets certain standards for labor practices on city-funded construction projects, with the goal of promoting fair and equitable treatment for workers.
Here`s what you need to know about the City of Los Angeles PLA:
What is a Project Labor Agreement?
A Project Labor Agreement is a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement that establishes the terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project. The agreement is negotiated between the project owner (in this case, the City of Los Angeles) and one or more labor organizations, and lays out the wages, benefits, and other working conditions that will apply to all workers on the project.
What is the City of Los Angeles PLA?
The City of Los Angeles PLA is a specific type of Project Labor Agreement that applies to city-funded construction projects that cost $15 million or more. The agreement was first put in place in 2009, and has been updated several times since then.
Under the PLA, contractors bidding on city projects must agree to certain labor standards, including:
— Paying workers the prevailing wage (the hourly wage paid to the majority of workers in a given area) and providing certain benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans.
— Hiring workers through union hiring halls, where workers are dispatched to job sites based on their seniority and qualifications.
— Using a certain percentage of apprentices on the project, to help train the next generation of workers.
— Establishing dispute resolution procedures to deal with any issues that arise during the project.
What are the benefits of the City of Los Angeles PLA?
Proponents of the City of Los Angeles PLA argue that it helps ensure that construction projects are completed on time and within budget, while also promoting fair treatment for workers. By requiring contractors to hire workers through union hiring halls, the PLA helps ensure that workers are qualified and experienced, and helps prevent problems like wage theft and violations of safety rules.
Critics of the PLA argue that it can add unnecessary costs to construction projects, and can limit competition by excluding non-union contractors from bidding on certain projects. However, supporters of the PLA point out that it is voluntary — contractors are not required to bid on city projects if they don`t want to abide by the PLA`s labor standards.
Overall, the City of Los Angeles PLA is an important part of the city`s efforts to promote fair labor practices in the construction industry. If you`re a contractor looking to work on city projects, make sure you`re familiar with the agreement`s requirements and standards.