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Construction unions urge UC to require health benefits and labor standards on campus projects
Summary
NorCal carpenters and union representatives urged the regents to adopt explicit labor standards — including required health care benefits — for contractors working on University of California projects to protect workers and taxpayers.
Representatives from Northern California construction unions told the University of California Board of Regents Health Services Committee that UC should codify labor standards requiring contractors to provide health care benefits and other protections to workers on campus projects.
"UC's own research from Berkeley shows that construction worker families are, on average, much more likely to rely on safety net programs than your average family in California," said Harvey McKeown, a field representative for the NorCal Carpenters Union. McKeown urged the regents to invite only responsible contractors who provide health benefits.
Daniel Gregg, a senior representative at NorCal Carpenters Union Local 22, told the committee that prevailing wage rules alone do not ensure health coverage. "With the adoption of labor standards that include health care requirements, the University of California can stand up for taxpayers, workers, and crucially help reduce the number of workers that fall through the cracks," Gregg said.
Speakers argued that requiring health benefits in contract standards would both protect workers and prevent public safety-net reliance. The comments were appeals to policy change at the contracting level; no formal motions or votes were recorded during the open session, and the committee did not announce any immediate contract-policy changes in the public meeting.
Union representatives said they stand ready to collaborate with UC leaders on standards and implementation details, and they emphasized the potential for campus construction to raise families into middle-class employment if contractors meet higher labor standards.
