In a victory for labor unions, the San Diego City Council unanimously approved a citywide Project Labor Agreement through 2031 Tuesday, reversing a years-old ban.
A PLA is a collective bargaining agreement between contractors and unions, which takes place before a specific construction project begins.
Labor unions and supporters cheered the decision, which they say will boost the local economy and protect workers.
PLAs were banned after voters passed Ballot Measure A in 2012, effectively stopping the city from negotiating with unions on construction projects.
In 2022, San Diego City Council member Raul Campillo moved to put Measure D on the ballot, reversing the decade-old decision. It passed with 57% of the vote, allowing the city to begin using PLAs again.
Under the policy approved by the City Council, the PLA will take effect beginning July 1 of this year and 2024 and last seven years.
The agreement will cover projects that have a construction value of at least $5 million for the first two years, then projects with a construction value of $1 million or more starting in July 2026.
The full text of the Project Labor Agreement can be read here.