Community Workforce Agreement Approved, Supports Local Hiring
Published on October 22, 2026
The Culver City City Council unanimously approved a Community Workforce Agreement with the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, establishing consistent workforce terms for covered City construction projects while supporting local hiring and workforce development.
The agreement will apply to multi-trade construction contracts of $750,000 or more and prime specialty contracts of $150,000 or more. A Community Workforce Agreement, also known as a form of Project Labor Agreement, establishes uniform labor terms for public construction projects that meet specified contract thresholds. Rather than negotiating separate labor agreements for individual projects, the CWA establishes one set of requirements for covered City construction work.
“The Community Workforce Agreement is a great opportunity for Culver City to ensure that we are investing public dollars in our community and the people who build it,” said Culver City Mayor Freddy Puza. “What I especially appreciate about this agreement is its emphasis on local hiring and creating pathways to employment for veterans, disadvantaged workers, and people who have historically faced barriers to employment. It’s about building a stronger workforce, supporting working families, and making sure our public investments deliver lasting benefits.”
"It's a great day in Culver City," said Eddie Escotó Alvarez, Los Angeles County Representative for the LA/OC Building Trades Council. "The opportunity for us to work with both Culver City and Culver City Unified under CWA's is a real game changer for this community."
"Agreements like this bring real opportunities to Culver City locals, veterans, apprentices and more. We look forward to building the future of Culver City with the best skilled and trained workforce in the country," said Ernesto Medrano, Executive Secretary of the LA/OC Building Trades Council.
"Joining the Carpenters Union changed my life and my family’s future by providing stability, good-paying wages, and opportunities for a better quality of life," said Jose Amador, a representative for the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters. "To me, the Community Workforce Agreement is about creating those same opportunities for our students, residents, and the community. All I want to do is help others experience the same opportunities that changed my life and gave my family a brighter future."
The agreement includes several provisions focused on employment and workforce development:
- Local and regional hiring: Establishes targets for a share of construction work hours to be performed by local and regional residents, connecting City-funded construction investments with employment opportunities in the community and surrounding region.
- Opportunities for workers facing barriers to employment: Includes provisions supporting disadvantaged workers, veterans and residents who have historically faced barriers to employment.
- Registered apprenticeships: Supports apprenticeship programs that provide training and career pathways while helping develop the region’s future construction workforce.
- Labor stability: Establishes no-strike and no-lockout commitments and a defined dispute-resolution process for covered projects to reduce the risk of work stoppages and construction delays.
The agreement does not limit City construction contracts to union contractors. Union and nonunion contractors may continue to compete through the City’s normal competitive bidding process, provided the successful contractor agrees to comply with the CWA on a covered project.
The CWA is intended to connect Culver City’s investment in public infrastructure with workforce development, local and regional employment opportunities and a pipeline of trained construction workers as the City continues to deliver capital projects throughout the community.