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The Contra Costa County, California government has made project labor agreements a requirement for public works projects totaling $1 million or more.

A 4-1 vote by the governing Board of Supervisors in mid-January passed the ordinance, which includes a no-strike clause and use of the union hiring hall for new workers beyond a contractors core work force.

The vote came months after heavy lobbying by the Contra Costa Building Trades.

"The taxpayers are going to get a good job as a result of this," said Michael Yarbrough, business manager of IBEW Local 302, Martinez, California, the county seat. "The supervisors did the right thing for working people."

As one of his first acts in office, President Bush signed an executive order banning PLAs on federally funded projects a year ago, precipitating a round of legal actions that resulted in a federal judge overturning the ban. The U.S. Justice Department is appealing that ruling. Contra Costa labor advocates are encouraged by the courts action and the move by the county.

"This sets a standard for other public works projects in the county," said Dale D. Peterson, assistant business manager of Local 302.

The Contra Costa PLA ordinance was vigorously opposed by Associated General Contractors of California, who eventually argued unsuccessfully the agreements be limited to projects worth more than $25 million. The county building trades plan to ensure the county will be glad it sided with them.

"Annual evaluations will show it reinforces the local economy," Peterson said. "It produces a better job, on time and under budget."

Yarbrough said the countys action came several months after a job across the street from the Local 302 hall went to a non-union contractor. If the PLA requirement had been in place then, IBEW workers would have been part of the job.

The ordinance shows the value of an active IBEW grassroots political action committee and cooperation with the other building trades.

"We spent a lot of time with our elected officials in the county," Yarbrough said. "You dont just walk in and get what you want."

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