Union speakers, residents urge local hiring, apprenticeships for 21 Linn Street development

Several residents and construction-trade representatives told the council Tuesday they want the city to use its leverage over local development projects to ensure local hiring, living wages and apprenticeship opportunities.

Bill Gearhart, a longtime Iowa City resident and former president of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council, said he liked the proposals presented at a prior work session for the 21 Linn Street site but wanted assurance the developers would hire local union tradespeople, pay a living wage and utilize registered-apprenticeship programs. "If we use local people, local building tradesmen and women, pay them a living wage, make sure they use our apprentice programs, we're going to get a safer project, and a more economic impact here in Iowa City," Gearhart said.

Chad Campion, a sixth-generation Iowa City resident and union electrician with IBEW Local 405, urged the council to look for contractors hiring local workers when evaluating projects. "Walk through one of the jobs. Stop by the general contractor's trailer. Look at the license plates, and see if they're local," Campion said, arguing that local hiring produces safer, better-supported work crews.

Cole Eckhart, an electrical apprentice, said he and other apprentices rely on local hires to build their careers and asked the council to prioritize local-hire commitments on city-supported projects.

Commenters said both developer presentations for 21 Linn Street shown at the council’s earlier work session looked promising but that the city should seek clearer commitments on hiring and wages as projects move forward. The council did not take formal action on hiring requirements during the meeting; commenters asked staff and councilors to include local-hiring provisions in negotiations and development approvals where feasible.