EVERETT — By a 4-3 council vote, the city will use mandatory project labor agreements on major city projects above $5 million. The mandate requires the city itself to negotiate wage and safety packages with labor unions as a step before taking big projects to bid, and which bidding contractors would need to abide by.
The issue split the council. Every council member said they support the concept, but some wanted to hold off to be sure the city is ready.
The four council members who wanted to push ahead were ordinance initiator Liz Vogeli, plus Mary Fosse, Paula Rhyne and Don Schwab. The three wanting to pause were Ben Zarlingo, Brenda Stonecipher and Judy Tuohy.
An early attempt to table the topic for more time got shot down on that 4-3 voting line.
Vogeli and Fosse collaborated with union representatives to develop the ordinance.
A few open-shop contractors, where employees have the option to join a union, said this will scare them away from bidding on Everett jobs because a labor agreement may require them to be corralled into hiring only union labor on a project.
Opponents also say this system increases project budgets. Volunteer city finance committee member Craig Skotdal told the council that after going through budget meetings trying to brainstorm solutions to Everett’s cashflow problem, council members who vote to institute project labor agreements are demonstrating “that you are not serious about managing the city’s budget.”
Council members emphasized they are supporting working families.
“I refuse to balance our budget woes on the backs of laborers,” Rhyne said.
Union leaders said it ensures workers are classified correctly and receive benefits.
The city legal department said it anticipates needing to hire outside attorneys in the labor relations field to produce Everett’s own template for project labor agreements.
Excluded from the mandate are four major projects expected to go to bid in 2023.
Past coverage
EVERETT — Union tradespeople are urging the Everett City Council to cement a new requirement to establish upfront labor agreements on any major city project. The City Council has two competing "new rule" proposals relating to project labor agreements to consider at its Dec. 7 council meeting, and also has been asked to pause on deciding anything.
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