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The comment below was delivered by Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Inland Empire Labor Council, Ricardo Cisneros, to the San Bernardino County Unified School District (SBCUSD) on February 4th, 2025.
Good evening SBCUSD Board Members,
My name is Ricardo Cisneros, the Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Inland Empire Labor Council AFL-CIO, representing 96 Unions and over 400,000 Members in the IE.
For too long we’ve had industry in this region take advantage and exploit our community by using our tax dollars to produce an untrained and underpaid workforce, most of the time brought in from other states, to do work in our region.
Tonight we have the opportunity to create real economic development in partnership with SBCUSD and taking a leap towards winning the war against poverty, by moving forward with the Community Workforce Agreement.
As a 1st Generation Mexican/American leading the Labor Movement in this region, I applaud your leadership in taking steps to create true equity in our community. The local hire piece of the Community Workforce Agreement gives opportunity to the constituents you serve, so they can work locally and participate in prospering their own neighborhoods.
So let’s make SBCUSD a training ground for these men and women to earn while they learn, creating career pathways and stimulating our local economy with Mortgage Sustainable Jobs for our community.
I thank you in advance for doing the right thing for the communities within SBCUSD by moving forward with the CWA.
– Ricardo Cisneros
Following the above statement from our Executive Secretary-Treasurer we heard from the following advocates:
- Venessa Ingalls, Founder of Tradeswomen Sisterhood and member of IBEW 440
- Albert Duarte, Executive Secretary/Business Manager of the Inland Empire Building and Construction Trades Council, Ironworkers 416
- Shane Cox, President of the Southern Sierra Chapter, NECA
- Omar Cobian, Deputy Political Director Inland Empire, Western States Regional Council of Carpenters
- David Mount, apprentice with IBEW at the IEETC
- Gregory Temple, member of IBEW 477 and director of the Electrical Re-Entry Program
- Joe Salas, former teacher and member of CTA
Following all of the comments in approval of the CWA, a motion to approve was given by Danny Tillman, then quickly seconded by Abigail Rosales-Medina. Following the motion and the second, the board unanimously approved the CWA, with every board member speaking in support of it.
As a direct result of this CWA, union members — apprentice and journeyman alike — will get good-paying jobs in the city that they live in. Necessary infrastructure improvements will be done by skilled and trained workers, increasing energy efficiency in schools and improving air quality for children.
The CWA is committed to prioritizing the hire of local residents, alumni, and veterans while also paying prevailing wages, enforcing higher safety standards, and promoting the retention of local talent. In addition to good-paying jobs, the CWA prioritizes entrepreneurship opportunities in the construction industry for women, disabled veterans, and people of color.
Read the complete agenda item here, which contains the full text of this great agreement.
Thank you to the SBCUSD board for voting yes on this, and thank you to all of the hard-working members that showed up to advocate for the CWA.
