Chula Vista Open Competition Ordinance Qualifies for June 2010 Ballot
The citizens of Chula Vista, California will have the opportunity to vote against Big Labor favoritism. ABC of San Diego’s petition to require open competition on city-funded construction projects received the required 10,399 signatures to be placed on the ballot in June 2010. If adopted, this ballot measure will prohibit wasteful and discriminatory union-only projects labor agreements on city and city-assisted work.
Here is an excerpt from SignonSanDiego’s coverage of the petition’s qualification:
“You bet I’m pleased,” said George Hawkins of Associated Builders and Contractors. “The citizens of Chula Vista who said they wanted to make a decision on this will hopefully be able to do so.”
The group wants the city to create a law that would bar unions from negotiating deals in which only union workers could be hired for city-subsidized projects, such as the Gaylord Entertainment hotel and convention center that was once proposed for the bayfront.
Non-union workers want to ensure they have a shot at construction jobs future city development will create. Unionized contractors would still be able to bid on subsidized projects, as would nonunion contractors, under the initiative the builders group is proposing.