On June 3, 2019, we reported that unions were "Trying Again for Project Labor Agreement at Fresno-Based State Center Community College District." Looks like they have the votes on the elected board now to pass it.

On September 3, 2019, the elected board of the State Center Community College District will vote on "Directing Staff and Legal Counsel to Prepare and Negotiate a Project Labor Agreement for a Pilot Project at the New West Fresno, Career & Technology Center Campus." The college administration is recommending that the board cut competition and raise costs for this project, for reasons unknown but perhaps related to a deal with unions for their support to get government funding for another project or program.

Unions began lobbying for control of State Center Community College District construction contracts in August 2016. In the summer of 2017, it was revealed that the union-controlled pre-apprenticeship program at the college district was failing to feed local people into the unionized construction trades for work at the California High-Speed Rail Authority, despite a Project Labor Agreement in effect on high-speed rail contracts. (See California High-Speed Rail Jobs: High Hopes, Harsh Reality.)

Memories are short and the San Joaquin Valley is changing, as unions and their allies are now making deep inroads into political control of the region. This means governments there are now compelling workers to have union representation and pay union dues and fees to work on projects in their own communities. If local workers don't want to go to the unions for a job, there are workers in other parts of the state ready to come in as travelers.