Originally posted on La Mesa Patch.
By Bill Baber
Fairness is a core American value–it is part of the DNA of the USA. We highly value each person as important—and we complain strongly when someone else is taking advantage of us. “That’s not fair!” is a common cry from the schoolyard to the state capital. Each of learned a simple rule in kindergarten: We should each “play fair.”
Proposition A on the November ballot is all about fairness. It is the Fair and Open Competition Amendment for the County Charter. Prop. A prohibits the politicians from using contracts called “project labor agreements” to discriminate against nonunion companies and workers.
Most project labor agreements force nonunion workers to join the union if they want to work at the job site. This is fundamentally wrong. American workers should not be penalized for electing to be free of union control. It is not fair to force someone who wants to work on a taxpayer-funded construction project to become a union member. Prop. A guarantees all qualified construction workers will have an equal opportunity to work on County public projects, regardless of their union affiliation.
Most project labor agreements force nonunion workers to pay into union pension funds, even though the workers have no realistic chance of vesting. Many of these pension plans are underfunded and some are nearly bankrupt. It is not fair to force a nonunion worker to pay into a union pension plan just for the privilege of working on public project. Prop. A would end this union “pension tax.”
Many union firms would never get a county construction contract unless they received special favoritism under a project labor agreement. Eighty-five percent of the American workforce is nonunion, yet project labor agreements favor the 15 percent union over everyone else. Competition is harsh but fair and produces the best price for the taxpayer
It is not fair for elected officials to give away public money to their union friends. Prop. A puts a stop to this corruption. It ensures that our fire stations, roads, libraries and senior centers are built at a reasonable price without cronyism.
Voting YES on A this Nov. 2 sends a clear message: San Diego taxpayers want fairness—not sweetheart deals for unions. We want county construction projects open to every qualified local worker, whether union or nonunion.
Make your kindergarten teacher proud of you. Vote for Fairness. Vote Yes on A.
Bill Baber
Governing Board Member, La Mesa-Spring Valley School District