The vast majority of workers in desert communities and on Imperial Irrigation District construction projects choose not to have union representation, and most construction companies are not signatory to union Master Labor Agreements. A Project Labor Agreement will likely result in union workers (called “travelers”) coming to desert communities from Los Angeles and from other states.

Construction companies on Imperial Irrigation District construction contracts must pay state-mandated “prevailing wages” to their trade worker employees, whether their workers chose to be represented by a union or independent. Those government rates are determined by adding up wages and all employer fringe benefit payments indicated in the applicable union agreements for each trade.

A construction company not signatory to a union agreement that signs a Project Labor Agreement must pay employee fringe benefits (health, retirement, etc.) to union-affiliated trust funds instead of the company’s own benefit programs for its employees. Workers from desert communities won’t benefit from those payments unless they choose to leave their employer and become permanently affiliated with the union. If they don’t leave their employer, those benefits remain with the unions to subsidize their benefit programs.

Loss of bid competition will increase the costs of construction for the Imperial Irrigation District. This means higher prices for desert community ratepayers. Can you afford an increase to your power bills?

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