Cerritos council directs staff to negotiate community workforce agreement with building trades

The Cerritos City Council on May 22 directed city staff to begin negotiations for a Community Workforce Agreement (CWA) with the Los Angeles and Orange County Building and Construction Trades Council and affiliated labor organizations.

City Manager Robert Lopez and Director of Public Works Alvin Papa told the council that CWAs are project-labor–style agreements used by nearby cities to promote local hiring, apprenticeship opportunities and labor stability on public works projects. Papa said CWAs can be tailored to local needs but may increase administrative compliance costs and would not replace the city’s public bidding obligations under the Public Contracts Code.

Councilmember Mark Pulido, who moved the directive, called the discussion “a watershed moment” and urged a robust negotiation process. Pulido moved the council to “direct the city manager and staff to enter negotiations with the LA & OC Building and Construction Trades Council and all associated affiliates and parties present tonight” and to return a proposed agreement for future review; Mayor Pro Tem Linda Johnson seconded the motion.

More than a dozen labor representatives and union business agents testified in support. Andrew Gonzales of the LA & OC Building Trades said a CWA would provide “the best and greatest union skilled craftsmen and women that money can buy” and create apprenticeship opportunities and local-hire pathways. Richard Burns of the Western States Carpenters urged the city to include strong labor standards, medical benefits and training pathways. Multiple speakers emphasized local hiring, reduced commute times for workers, and that CWAs can “level the playing field” against low-bid contractors who cut corners.

Council discussion focused on negotiation team composition, fiscal implications and compliance. Staff advised that some projects could be subject to additional verification or third‑party compliance monitoring, which could create additional costs. The council appointed Mayor Pro Tem Johnson and Councilmember Pulido to serve as the city’s representatives on an ad hoc negotiating team. City staff indicated they would coordinate the negotiation work with the city attorney and return to the council with a draft agreement for formal consideration.

The council’s direction sets in motion a multi-step process: staff will engage parties, develop draft terms and return with a proposal to the council. The city attorney said the city already has experience drafting project‑labor agreements and will provide legal support.

The action does not yet adopt a final agreement. Staff emphasized that any specific terms, thresholds or local-hire targets will be brought back to the council for formal review and any required approvals.

What happens next: staff will negotiate with the trading councils and report back with proposed language and any identified fiscal impacts for council consideration.