Port of Hueneme signs first ever project labor agreement

Keeping labor local for public works projects

Port of Hueneme, California - On Monday night, the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Commissioners took a historic step in signing a Project Labor Agreement. The first of its kind in the Port’s 81-year history, the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) will ensure local labor for all Port projects estimated at or over $250,000. The PLA will last for three years and may be extended by mutual consent of both the Port and the Unions.

“The Port’s priority has always been to hire contractors and labor from our local community, the PLA formalizes this priority and ensures that our projects directly support our local workers and families,” said Oxnard Harbor District President Mary Anne Rooney. “We are eager to continue moving the Port forward as the leading provider of homegrown good-paying jobs, real ladders of economic opportunity, and strong environmental leadership for our community.”

According the agreement, the parties will work toward having at least 30% of all construction labor hours worked come from qualified workers residing in the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme as first priority, those residing in Ventura County as second priority, and those workers residing within Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties as third priority.

“Although our cargo comes from all over the world, this agreement guarantees that we will continue to provide economic opportunity for our local workforce first and foremost,” expanded Oxnard Harbor District Board Secretary Jess Ramirez. “Our projects, and the millions of dollars the Port is planning on investing in our community, is now guaranteed to directly support our local families and workers who help us modernize our Port.”

As party to the PLA, both the Port and labor will participate in the “Helmets to Hardhats” program. This program assists in creating and maintaining an integrated database of veterans interested in working on Port projects and participating in apprenticeship opportunities.

“I would like to thank the Port and Harbor Commissioners for their leadership to accomplish this historic agreement,” stated Tony Skinner, President of the IBEW Local 952. “This PLA will go a long way in putting our local people to work, expanding our apprenticeship programs, and giving our returning veterans a place to work when they come home.”

“This agreement will provide good paying jobs for our local trades. It provides access to a reliable supply of well-trained, highly-skilled workers and helps keep projects on time and on budget. This is a real win-win for the Port, our labor force, and the community,” said Kristin Decas, CEO & Port Director.

The PLA is not just for new construction projects at the Port, it will apply to all construction, abatement, demolition, renovation, rehabilitation, upgrade and improvement work and new construction projects to be performed under a contract with the Port, as well as all subcontracts flowing from those contracts.