I am excited to announce that the “Fair and Open Competition Ordinance” qualified for the June 2012 Primary Election ballot. This measure, which I helped craft and supported from day one, will bar the City of San Diego from entering into union-only construction contracts in the future, or “project labor agreements” (PLAs).
PLAs keep non-union companies from bidding on contracts, drive up the cost of development projects, and shut out non-union contractors from jobs in San Diego. Getting this measure on the ballot is a vital step forward to make San Diego an even playing field for all businesses.
The measure is supported by the Associated Builders & Contractors of San Diego, Inc. and the Associated General Contractors of San Diego, Inc. and will be one of the most important issues facing the construction industry throughout the next year. I hope we can count on your support as we get the word out about this measure to the people of San Diego.
The San Diego City Council will have the opportunity to directly pass this measure in the next three weeks, but that is unlikely due to the amount of union-backed Council members. If rejected by the elected officials, the measure will be placed on the June 2012 ballot where the people will have the opportunity to vote it into law.
Last month I proposed my “Pathway to Prosperity” action plan with seven major reforms for job creation in San Diego, and Fair and Open Competition was a centerpiece of that proposal. As I promised then, I am willing to take these business-friendly proposals directly to the voters if politicians are unwilling to enact job-friendly reforms on their own.
An important note: Union-backed members of the State Legislature have introduced legislation which would overturn local bans on PLAs. Please contact Governor Jerry Brown’s office and encourage him to veto “Senate Bill 922” when it comes to his desk.
Governor Jerry Brown
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160
Comments 2
And if the Governor does sign SB 922, what then?
Then, Alger, YOU and your cronies can campaign against the initiative (which you oppose regardless) and we can campaign for it. We’ll have months to debate the issue and inform the voting public. Ultimately the citizens will decide in a fair an open election — with all the facts presented.
What a concept!