I heard a strange story yesterday from a pajarito. Turns out that the proposed extension of the 241 will be done under the auspices of a PLA. I have not checked on that yet, but it could be true. All county public works projects were under a PLA for some time, and perhaps this one has been on the books long enough to do so as well.
For those who don’t know, a PLA is a “project labor agreement.” It bans non-union contractors from bidding on public works under PLAs unless they hire their workers from the union hall. PLAs reduce bidders, increase costs, and cause delays. The only ones who benefit from PLAs are of course the unions.
My source told me that the OC Democrats recently voted on the 241 issue. Most of them voted against it. However, the unions defended the extension, saying that not building it would cost jobs.
So, you have the pro-union Democrats versus the green Democrats. What a battle! But I wonder how this will play out with county conservatives? They love building freeways, especially if you can kill a few deer in the process. However, they don’t like unions. If this proves true, watch them struggle big-time with this issue.
I predict however that pro-PLA Republicans like Curt Pringle, Jim Silva and Ken Maddox will push for the extension. And the rest of them will get in line, as they always do.
Wow. If that’s the case, I can no longer support the 241 extension.
Dear Art – while you took the time to provide the definition of PLA for the uninformed, you did not take the time to provide a description or translation of the word “pajarito.” As some of us are not fluent in anything other than English (even though I am fluent in PLA – speak), would you mind? Thanks.
Poster 2,
It means “little bird.” It means my source wants to be anonymous.
“Wow. If that’s the case, I can no longer support the 241 extension.”
Then please, Ryan Gene, JOIN US IN STOPPING THIS CRAZED BOONDOGGLE! Though I don’t have a problem with the PLA (I think we should be paying our workers a good wage, and I think they have every right to organize and collectively bargain, but anyways…), I DO have a problem with this idiotic boondoggle that does NOTHING WHATSOEVER to ease traffic in South County, even as it destroys one of the last unspoiled beaches in SoCal! There are better alternatives, such as connecting the 241 to the 73 at the 5/73 interchange in Laguna Niguel, that might ACTUALLY TAKE SOUTH COUNTY COMMUTERS TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO, while San Onofre Park is left unspoiled for our future generations to enjoy.
But anyways, that’s just my $0.02. Why should we waste any more time and resources on this fiscally irresponsible, environmentally detrimental, an morally reprehensible proposals when there are better options that ease traffic, provide good jobs, AND leave our open space alone.
: )
Given that organized labor is a dinosaur of the private sector, that in itself should cause alarm at the limited contractors that would be able to bid PLA projects.
No one should be forced to join a union and pay those dues! “Card Registration” is a joke! Notably the OC GOP BOS willingly entered into this union “square dance.”
Can we presume the Garden Grove Freeway “project” that has been disastrous with the duration of the disruption of traffic on both sides of the 22,especially at on/off ramps, is under a PLA? The “lost business” for those operating in impacted areas?
LA County and City is but a branch of Organized Labor; homeless in the streets, not enough “slots” on Skid Row, dumping of patients “discharged” from hospitals, KING/DREW, RAMPART of the LAPD; just a few. Unions hold so much influence there is no length too far .. water, trash, utilities? Those on fixed incomes? Anything goes!!! No wonder that BOS is in paralysis lest they “offend;” management of the public interest suspended.
It is obscene that unions are allowed the arrogance to PUSH a “job creator” regardless of the quality or duration of “jobs,” and regardless of the public welfare, health and safety, or even environmental impacts, and through the STREAM OF REVENUES SUSTAINED BY DUES to SUPPORT THEIR ABILITY TO FUND ELECTIONS OF “THEIR GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES” with that convenience of PASS THROUGH to TAXPAYERS billed in taxes and fees for revolving payrolls generating those “dues” from which unions can well afford their “business managers” and “political action!”
Unions demand privilege to transcend issues of “the work place,” layoffs, downsizing, productivity. Their antiquated agenda is rejected in the workforce today by those striving for achivement and commensurate compensation in the private sector; how to pull “the plug” to remedy conditions in the public sector? A CA version of “The Hatch Act?”
Andrew,
I did quite a bit of research on the 241 project for a class last semester and came to the conclusion that environmentally, the project was sound.
The 241 extension will not harm, or get anywhere near, the Trestles as proclaimed by environmental groups.
Easing South County traffic and opening up more transit opportunities for the growing area is a need and needs to be addressed much sooner rather than later.
That’s why I support the 241 extension. However, if it’s going to be one big PLA project then I’m not going to support it.
I would appreciate some clarity on the subject so I can take a uniformed stand one way or the other.
There’s quite a bit of science that proves the potential damage this tollway will cause.
In addition it will have to go through protected land. What is the importance of an environmental preserve when you can bulldoze a freeway right through it?
The San Onofre State beach and the environmental preserve next to it should remain protected forever. These areas should be passed to the next generations unmolested and unaltered without the intrusion of roadways,buildings, and other structures.
If this tollway penetrates the protection meant to preserve these areas, it sets a precedent, and other projects will likely not be far behind.
Project Stabilization Agreements are hardly the boogyman thats being projected. They provide s stable, well qualified work force, ensure that the project moves along with an expedited process for labor disputes and ensures tough measures to prevent work stoppages. Empirically, there has been no no drop off in bids in SOCAL for projects with these agreements–comparatively they are getting just as many bids–if not more–then projects without these agreements. And since public works projects have to pay prevailing wages the costs are no greater. of course, some employers now actually have to pay the prevailing wage instead of cheating. And some employers are having to use local workers rather then out of state types.
A PLA or PSA isn’t for every public works project—thank God we still have local control over these things—but it does have some advantages where the local entity reaches an agreement with labor organizations.
Art–rather then just smash mouth the agreements, why not work to modify them? You’ve got some ideas about some of the problems(sometimes the local union hall is low on minority workers; issues of a non-union worker putting his or her non-union medical plan at risk)
You’re a union guy yourself and now you’ve made the move to the middle–why not sit down with the labor honchos? Lately you’ve been the target of some pretty harsh criticism from the usual suspects–why not show them that you can work with someone or some group who you don’t always agree with to improve public policy?
B/R,
They are not called PSAs. They are called PLAs. They are not necessary! We already have CBAs in place – and on all public jobs, prevailing wages are mandatory.
John Hanna himself told me that the Rancho PLA did not work out. It slowed down work, it reduced the number of bidders, etc. Just as I predicted it would.
I am not anti-union. However, I find PLAs to be UNFAIR. They shut out open shops.
If there is concern about the prevailing wages being made, the answer is an LCP – a labor compliance program. Ask your union friends. They know what an LCP is.