May 31, 2002—A proposed labor agreement, brokered by the administration of California Gov. Gray Davis, could reverse Proposition 35, which allows the California Department of Transportation to contract with private firms for engineering and design work.
The labor deal, included in SB 1213, includes a 5-percent pay raise over two years for state engineering and design employees and a provision prohibiting the state from contracting with private companies for architecture and engineering except when workload exceeds levels from the year 2000 thresholds. Additionally, the provision would limit contracting out to private firms that use apprenticeship programs approved by the state, potentially eliminating opportunities for non-union private companies.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) California Council, which reported on the labor deal, is actively opposing SB 1213, citing concerns that competition restrictions would lead to slower delivery of transportation projects.
Based on a report from AIA’s ANGLE
