An initiative reportedly designed to maximize the number of local workers hired for large county government public works projects — worth $10 million or more — is posting desultory results after three years of actual experience.
Three years ago, the Santa Barbara County supervisors voted to require that large contracts be awarded to union shop companies as opposed to large non-union contracting firms. The thinking was this would maximize the number of local tri-county workers, improve the quality of work, and ensure labor peace.
In addition, the initiative — known alternately as Project Labor Agreements or Community Workforce Agreements — promised to deliver a union-supported apprenticeship program offering local youth a pathway to higher-paying jobs that would enable them to remain in their hometowns…