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Board debate over Measure O addendum to project‑labor agreement turns contentious; carpenters press to be named separately
Summary
Board members Monday debated whether to fold the Measure O bond program into the district’s 2018 project‑labor agreement; labor representatives clashed over signature language and the board directed staff to revise the side letter to acknowledge the Northern California Carpenters as a separate entity.
Trustees debated whether to add Measure O capital projects to the district’s existing 2018 project‑labor agreement (PLA) at Monday’s meeting. The measure will provide roughly $90 million for district facilities projects; staff recommended a side letter to fold Measure O projects over $1 million into the PLA to preserve existing labor and contracting processes.
The discussion grew heated when the Northern California Carpenters — which dissociated from the local Building Trades Council in 2023 — asked to be explicitly named as a separate signatory in any side letter. Rick Solis of Carpenters Local 152 said the union wants explicit inclusion as a distinct party, while representatives of the Contra Costa Building Trades Council argued the Carpenters left the council voluntarily and should not be permitted to unilaterally change PLA signatures.
District legal counsel and staff said the 2018 PLA remains in effect and that Measure O projects can be included by mutual written agreement under section 1.9, but they cautioned that re‑drafting the side letter could trigger extended negotiations and additional legal work if parties do not agree. Superintendent and staff repeatedly stressed the objective of bringing Measure O projects into the PLA to keep projects on schedule and maintain the labor‑management stability that the PLA has provided on Measure R projects.
Public testimony included support from multiple trade unions and local college partners for rapid deployment of Measure O funds under the PLA as currently written to avoid delays in construction. Carpenters representatives said they were not seeking to block the PLA but insisted on a separate signature line reflecting their current independent status; Building Trades Council leaders said the carpenters’ departure was voluntary and urged trustees to adopt the side letter without delay.
Trustees briefly deadlocked on competing motions in extended proceedings. Following discussion and a later clarifying motion, the board directed staff to revise the proposed side letter to include language specifically acknowledging the Northern California Carpenters as a separate entity for the Measure O addendum and to work with district counsel to return a revised document. Staff warned the board the change could require additional legal review and could prolong the external signatory process if not accepted by all unions, but trustees emphasized the district’s priorities: move Measure O projects forward and be inclusive of the trade groups seeking recognition.
No final construction contracts were approved Monday; the board’s action was limited to direction on side‑letter drafting and legal review.
