The Metro Board of Directors voted this morning in favor of a sweeping, agency-wide Construction Careers Policy covering Metro construction projects for the next 30 years, including projects funded under Measure R, the half-cent sales tax.
Today’s vote is intended to guarantee quality jobs for communities with high unemployment rates by increasing access to construction apprenticeship programs and jobs. The policy sets a precedent as the first of its kind for a major transit agency in the U.S.
The Metro Construction Careers Policy will be aimed at communities hardest hit by the recession and most in need of good, new jobs. The Construction Careers Policy requires that at least 30 percent of the jobs created go to workers from areas with high unemployment and that at least 10 percent go to disadvantaged workers, which include single parents, individuals without a high school diploma and those who have received public assistance.
County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose district is suffering from extremely high levels of unemployment, has been a longtime proponent of Metro’s Construction Careers Policy.
“This is a historic victory for workers in Los Angeles County,” said Mr. Ridley-Thomas. “Today's vote will ensure targeted hiring for thousands of construction jobs. It will authorize Metro to negotiate an agency-wide policy.
“No action taken by this Board, and dare I say any entity in the County, will do as much to provide not just employment, but actual career opportunities.
“In this time of economic crisis, it is imperative that the millions of dollars funding transportation projects also work to further the economic development of the community by employing the many skilled workers who have the training and experience for these jobs.”
In November 2008, Measure R was approved by a two-thirds majority of L.A. County voters, committing a projected $40 billion in traffic relief and transportation upgrades throughout the county over the next 30 years. Construction projects at Metro, including those funded by Measure R, total $70 billion in infrastructure investment, creating 260,000 construction jobs.
Laurie Kaufman may be contacted at lauriekaufman@earthlink.net.
