Building Trades News

New Underground Economy Task Force Increasing Enforcement, Cooperation

By Roy San Filippo
Staff Writer

Building Craft Unions along with the LA/OC Building Trades Council have partnered with the several state agencies including the State Board of Equalization (BOE), CAL-OSHA and the Employment Development Agency to tackle the growing problem of the underground economy.
In addition to the estimated $6.5 billion in revenue lost by the state every year, the underground economy deprives millions of workers fair wages and benefits and subjects them to unsafe working conditions.

San Pedro Mixed Used Project Would Build Much-Needed Workforce Housing

Hundreds of community and union members turned out to a Los Angeles City Planning Department meeting on June 26 to speak in support of the proposed Ponte Vista development, a 1,950 unit, mixed used project in San Pedro. The public hearing which took place at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium auditorium in San Pedro, allowed the city's planning department to take public comment on the project. The developer, Bisno Development Corporation, needs city approval to change the current zoning on the property, which is presently limited to single-family homes.

by Richard Bermack
Contributing Writer

'Often as a woman you'll be on a job site and feel alone. It is so amazing to walk into this conference and know you are really not alone, that all these women here today are in the trades and shared your experiences," said Carol Toliver of Tradeswomen, Inc., addressing the audience at the seventh annual California Women Building California Conference in Oakland, May 17-18. "It is also about union strengthening and making sure we are the best union members we can be. We have a lot to contribute, and it is only through unity and community we can remain strong," she continued.

Charter City Proposal Will Now Include Language to Protect Prevailing Wages

By Roy San Filippo
Staff Writer

On May 27, Building Trades craft unions won an important victory in the fight to protect prevailing wages in the City of Buena Park. Meeting under a special "study session," the City Council voted 4-0 to include language that would protect prevailing wages in Buena Park's charter city proposal.