Foster City council adopts project labor agreement after months of negotiations and robust public comment

Foster City’s City Council voted to adopt a project labor agreement (PLA) with the San Mateo County Building and Construction Trades Council on May 4, authorizing the city to require contractors on three select capital projects to comply with pre‑hire labor terms, referral procedures, wage and benefit standards, and no‑strike/no‑walkout provisions.

Public Works Director Andrew Bozena told the council the PLA is “a pre hire collective bargaining agreement … that establishes the terms and conditions of work for the construction of select capital projects,” and staff recommended covering three projects from the five‑year capital improvement program because of their size and complexity.

The measure drew questions from council members about whether nonunion contractors could bid and how a local‑hire preference would be implemented. City legal counsel David Hinman cautioned that requiring local hire under California public contracting rules is difficult and said, “whether you can require local hire … that’s a really hard thing to do,” adding that such provisions in the PLA are “more aspirational” and intended as stated policy rather than an enforceable residency requirement.

Ten members of the public spoke during the item, largely in support. Apprentices and union representatives said PLAs protect taxpayers, improve safety and scheduling, and create apprenticeship pathways. Trevor Long of Glazers Local 718 told the council, “PLAs do not increase costs and actually help projects to finish 15 to 19% faster.” Julie Lind of the San Mateo Labor Council said, “This agreement isn't theoretical, it's not political, it's practical,” urging the council to approve the measure.

Supporters highlighted apprenticeship opportunities and workforce development. Several council members expressed appreciation for the negotiation process and for staff work to reach an agreement; some raised caution about the city becoming involved in interunion disputes and emphasized staff and legal safeguards.

On a motion and second, the council approved the PLA. Staff said the agreement allows both union and nonunion contractors to bid so long as they comply with the PLA's terms, and the council directed staff to follow up on implementation details and reporting as projects move forward. The PLA's local‑hire goals remained framed as aspirational rather than legally enforceable, and the city attorney advised the council on the limits of requiring specific local‑hire outcomes under state procurement law.

The council's approval concludes the item at the May 4 meeting; staff indicated subsequent steps will include final signatures and bringing program implementation details and monitoring reports back to council as projects are programmed.