SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane City Council is considering an ordinance that would change how the city manages large construction projects.
The “Public Dollars for Public Benefit” ordinance would require contractors bidding on city construction projects over $5 million to sign community workforce agreements that mandate union representation.
Under the proposed ordinance, all contractors bidding on large city works projects, such as the Post Street Bridge renovation completed last year, would need union representation and provide workers with full benefits.
The agreement would also require one in every five construction workers on these projects to come from underserved communities, as a part of a priority hiring initiative.
Unions across Spokane say the ordinance is necessary to ensure fair working conditions and create job opportunities for local workers. However, some contractors argue the requirement would reduce competition and drive up construction costs.
Keely Friesen, owner and CEO of Vertical Options Elevator Services, an open shop contractor whose employees are not unionized, opposes the ordinance.
“This ordinance is not good for Spokane, and it’s not good for our workers. It’s just not good policy,” Friesen said.
Friesen pointed out that most construction workers in Washington state already work for non-union contractors.
“More than 80% of the construction workforce is currently working for an open shop contractor. So, in the state of Washington, people have already made their choice,” she said.
She believes the proposal would increase project costs because fewer contractors would be able to bid on large community projects.
“If a worker is already working for a good company that treats them fairly, that provides them excellent benefits, then having a community workforce agreement of this nature is really just redundant and, ultimately, does not do anything but drive up costs,” Friesen said.
Supporters of the ordinance disagree with claims about increased costs and reduced competition.
Laurel Fish, lead organizer for the Spokane Alliance, a coalition of 35 unions and community groups across the region, said research supports their position.
“Data from across the country shows that project labor agreements and community workforce agreements reduce project cost, and do not decrease the bidder pool,” Fish said.
The Spokane Alliance believes the ordinance would create pathways for workers from underserved communities to enter the construction trades.
“It creates a pipeline of folks into the trades, and it creates a set of terms and conditions that parties agree to before a project starts,” Fish said.
Supporters also argue the ordinance would prevent project delays by establishing fair working conditions before construction begins.
“Let’s come to an agreement before projects get underway. And then we all know what to expect going into it,” Fish said.
This ordinance is sponsored by Spokane City Council members Paul Dillon and Zack Zappone.
Dillon shared his support in a statement:
“I am proud to sponsor Public Dollars for Public Benefit which ensures that Spokane’s public infrastructure spending advances economic equity, workforce development, and maximum community benefit. With federal infrastructure funding uncertain, this local ordinance aims to safeguard taxpayer dollars and direct them where they’re needed most.”
Both sides of the debate agree that local workers should be the ones building Spokane’s infrastructure.
Spokane City Council will hear the first reading of the ordinance Monday night. It’s scheduled for a vote on August 25.
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