Policy covers 260,000 good construction jobs and will target high unemployment communities.
The L.A. County Metro Board of Directors voted 11-1 (Antonovich) in favor of a sweeping, agency-wide Construction Careers Policy covering Metro construction projects for the next 30 years, including projects funded under Measure R, the half-cent sales tax. The vote will guarantee good, quality jobs for communities with high unemployment rates by increasing access to construction apprenticeship programs and jobs. The policy sets a precedent as the first of its kind for a major transit agency in the U.S.
L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose district is suffering from extremely high levels of unemployment, has been a longtime proponent of Metro’s Construction Careers Policy. “This is a historic victory for workers in Los Angeles County,” said Ridley-Thomas. “Today’s vote by the Metro Board, will ensure targeted hiring for thousands of construction jobs and authorize Metro to negotiate an agency-wide policy. No action taken by this Board, and dare I say any entity in the County, will do as much to provide not just employment, but actual career opportunities.” Ridley-Thomas continued, “In this time of economic crisis, it is imperative that the millions of dollars funding transportation projects also work to further the economic development of the community by employing the many, many skilled workers who have the training and experience for these jobs.”
In November 2008, Measure R was approved by a two-thirds majority of L.A. County voters, committing a projected $40 billion in traffic relief and transportation upgrades throughout the county over the next 30 years. Construction projects at Metro, including those funded by Measure R, total over $70 billion dollars in infrastructure investment, creating over 260,000 construction jobs.
Anthony Mitchell, an out-of-work electrician (pictured above), spoke alongside Mayor Villaraigosa praising the final vote, “My family is facing foreclosure. I’m trying to get my loan modified, but I can’t qualify for a modification without steady work – and that’s my problem in the first place. . . . I’m far from alone. There are hundreds of thousands of people like myself – skilled, but unemployed or underemployed.” To read Anthony Mitchell’s story, “Jobs, L.A. Style” in the new blog, The Frying Pan, click here.
To see photos on Facebook, click here.
Check out the Los Angeles Times story, “Los Angeles County approves transportation jobs program.”
