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Groundbreaking University Study Reveals Taxpayer Impact of "Project Labor Agreements" in California School Construction

PLAs are written agreements between contractors and construction trade unions, which outline specific requirements such as hiring preferences, wages, benefits and how labor disputes are to be resolved. California voters approved $64 billion in school construction bonds during the last decade, and this research suggests that the enactment of a PLA may have significant financial impacts and put jobs at risk, especially in difficult financial times. At least 24 K-12 school districts in California have adopted PLA provisions, including Los Angeles Unified, Santa Ana Unified, San Diego Unified, San Francisco Unified and West Contra Costa Unified school districts. Between 1996 and 2008 these districts built at least 65 new schools using PLAs with a cumulative cost of $1.7 billion.

WHAT: WebEx and Teleconference to Release Study Findings

WHEN: Friday, July 22, 10:00 a.m. PDT

WHO: Study authors, W. Erik Bruvold, president, National University System Institute for Policy Research and Vince Vasquez, senior policy analyst, National University System Institute for Policy Research.

Lisa Schweitzer, associate professor in the school of policy, planning, and development at the University of Southern California. The Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy at the University of Southern California performed an independent review focusing specifically on the statistical analysis and associated findings.

CONTACT: This event is for credentialed media. To RSVP and receive access information, please contact W. Erik Bruvold at ebruvold@nu.edu or by phone at 858-642-8498.

National University System Institute for Policy Research
W. Erik Bruvold, 858-642-8498