New UC partnership will support major projects and California workers

UC is partnering with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and its affiliated unions on a new systemwide agreement designed to support major construction projects and expand workforce opportunities across the state.

The five-year Community Workforce Agreement will apply to major projects funded through state general obligation bonds and other state capital funding. Planned work may include new student housing, classrooms and research labs, expanded health care facilities, seismic improvements and updates to aging campus infrastructure. These investments will help UC better serve California’s students, patients and researchers by supporting the facilities needed to advance education, discovery and health care.

The agreement will also create shared standards for UC, contractors and labor partners to follow on worker training, job-site safety and project coordination, while expanding access to apprenticeships, prioritizing opportunities for local workers, veterans and targeted hires and encouraging participation by small, local, disadvantaged, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to delivering critical infrastructure for our campuses and health systems while investing in California’s workforce,” said Nathan Brostrom, UC executive vice president and chief financial officer. “By working collaboratively with our labor partners, we can support project reliability and create meaningful opportunities for workers and communities.”

For more information, read the full press release.