Our Fights
The Labor Council broadly fights for a future where all workers, their families, and future generations experience a dignified, secure, and healthy workplace and community. But how do we do this? Below we’ll outline a few specific ways of how we and the broader labor movement are currently building that future.
Technical Trade Centers
The Inland Empire needs a skilled and trained workforce, for building up our region and expanding career options for all. Too often, workers in our region have to venture out of it for either work or training. One way we can combat this is the construction of Technical Trade Centers that are meant to serve the Inland Empire. These centers will train people to be fully ready to enter the unionized trades, along their curriculum.
Community Benefits Agreements (CBA)
“A CBA is a legally enforceable contract, which sets forth a range of community benefits that a project proponent agrees to provide as part of a project. CBAs are often established between developers and coalitions of community organizations to ensure affected residents share in the benefits of development projects.” (Department of Toxic Substances Control, n.d.) CBAs often include provisions for groups besides organized labor, see an overview here. The JustSB collaborative has also created both an informative CBA comic book and CBA booklet.
Community Workforce Agreements (CWA) & Project Labor Agreements (PLA)
“Agreements between a public entity and construction unions that set wages, benefits and other working conditions on construction projects.” (Bobo et al., 2001, 280) Project Labor Agreements and Community Workforce Agreements are closely related, as are CBAs. A simple distinction is that CBAs sets high quality standards for construction and post-construction work, leading to better, safer jobs whereas a CWA/PLA is typically only construction.
A Recent Win!
On February 4th, the board of San Bernardino City Unified School District unanimously passed a CWA. Read the IELC’s comment about it here & listen to its advocates here. The IE’s labor movement showed up in full force to pass this CWA, and it will reward generations to come. We look forward to passing even more CWAs in the region!
Inland Empire Technical Trade Center
The result of a collaboration between labor, educational institutions, politicians, and community, the Inland Empire Technical Trade Center is now on track to come to the IE. This center will be a huge win for all residents, crucial to maintaining a trained, skilled, and well-paid workforce. Keep up with the project at their website.
Working Towards a CBA in San Bernardino
As a member of the JustSB collaborative, we’re all working to drive forward a CBA in downtown San Bernardino. We strive to ensure that pro-Labor elements are present in the CBA. Although it hasn’t been achieved yet, we hope to build a thriving San Bernardino through a CBA. On November 7th of 2024, we held a press conference as a collaborative to let San Bernardino know what we’re fighting for.
