Project Labor Agreement (PLA)

On March 28, 2019, the City of San José and the Santa Clara and San Benito Building Trades Council entered into a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for certain City public works projects.

A PLA is a multi-employer, multi-union pre-hire agreement designed to systematize labor relations at a construction site. Pre-hire agreements are collective bargaining agreements providing for union recognition, compulsory union dues, and mandatory use of union hiring halls prior to the hiring of any employees. PLA can include local hire and/or targeted hire provisions.

These agreements set out the terms under which building trades unions agree not to strike or picket the job, thus potentially avoiding construction delays.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Applies to public works projects with an Engineer's Estimate exceeding $730,000;
Design/build and design/bid/build public works projects are covered;
Provision for employers not currently working under a Master Agreement to hire five core workers;
Includes a Targeted Hire Agreement;

REFERENCE:

Project Labor Agreement (2019)

1st Amendment (2022)

Amendment No. 1 to First Amended (2024)

Amendment No. 2 to the First Amended (2025)

DOCUMENTS:

Addendum A- Agreement to be Bound

Targeted Hiring Form

Work Assignment Matrix