LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker today celebrated a major milestone for workers, families, and communities across Los Angeles as the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) Board approved a historic Community Workforce Agreement with the LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council.
The approval follows a 2024 motion introduced by McOsker directing HACLA to report on and pursue a Project Labor Agreement tied to its redevelopment and capital projects, including Rancho San Pedro.
“This agreement means good-paying jobs, real workforce opportunities, and a pathway for local residents to be part of building the future of their neighborhoods and beyond,” said Councilmember Tim McOsker. “It reflects what is possible when we bring labor, public agencies, and communities together around a shared vision.”
A Community Workforce Agreement (CWA), also known as a Project Labor Agreement, is a pre-hire agreement that sets the terms and conditions for construction projects. These agreements ensure fair wages and benefits, establish consistent working conditions, and include provisions for local hiring and workforce development. They are designed to promote labor stability, prevent delays, and create pathways for residents to access careers in the skilled trades.
The newly approved CWA establishes standardized working conditions across HACLA construction projects, ensures prevailing wages and benefits, and creates a reliable pipeline of skilled labor to deliver large-scale housing developments on time and at high quality.
“HACLA is committed to ensuring public investments drive lasting economic opportunity. This agreement with the Building Trades guarantees that our large-scale housing projects are built by a skilled, local workforce—including the very residents we serve," said HACLA President & CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez. "I thank Councilmember McOsker for his steadfast leadership and helping secure union apprenticeships and high-paying trade careers for our Section 3 residents."
Nearly half of HACLA housing is located within McOsker’s district, making this agreement especially impactful for local communities in the 15th Council District. Currently, there are redevelopment plans underway for Rancho San Pedro which is being transformed into One San Pedro, a multi-phase redevelopment of a 478-unit site into approximately 1,390 housing units, along with expanded community and commercial space.
"The signing of this Community Workforce Agreement marks an exciting step not just for us, but for communities around Los Angeles," said Ernesto Medrano, Executive Secretary of the LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council. "We're glad to be partnering with HACLA, and are looking forward to delivering quality results on the jobsite while creating pathways to middle-class careers for our local residents."
Today’s vote marks a final step in this process and aligns public investment with workforce equity, economic opportunity, and high-quality project delivery.
The CWA includes:
Local Hire Priorities and Workforce Development Pathways for Residents
The agreement prioritizes hiring through the federal Section 3 program, creating opportunities for low-income residents, including those living in public housing and surrounding communities. The CWA also creates pathways for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, ensuring that residents can access long-term careers in the skilled trades.
A Stronger Foundation for Project Delivery, Equity, and Long-Term Economic Opportunity
The CWA will:
- Guarantee prevailing wages and strong benefits for workers
- Promote labor stability and prevent project delays
- Support Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises
- Allow flexibility for contractors while maintaining strong labor standards
- Establish long-term workforce pipelines through union partnerships
With an initial five-year term, the agreement will apply to major HACLA construction projects, including developments of 40 or more units across multiple sites citywide.