Overview

Metro adopted the Construction Careers Policy (CCP) in conjunction with the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) to encourage construction employment and training opportunities to those who reside in economically disadvantaged areas on Metro construction projects. The agreement applies to certain local (non-federally) funded and federally funded construction projects with a life of project value greater than $2.5 million.

Metro's PLA is unique in that Metro is the first transit agency in the nation to adopt such an agreement with national targeted hiring goals for federally funded projects with FTA approval. The PLA and CCP were approved by Metro's Board of Directors on January 26, 2012 and negotiated with the Los Angeles/Orange County Building Construction Trades Council (LAOCBCTC) to help facilitate the timely completion of transit projects in LA County. 

Steps to a Construction Career

PLA Hiring Requirements

All contractors working on Metro construction projects covered by the PLA and CCP will be required to comply with certain targeted hiring requirements.

The PLA requires 40% participation of construction workers residing in economically disadvantaged areas, 10% participation of disadvantaged workers, and a 20% participation of apprentices.

FAQs

• What is the Project Labor Agreement?
• What is the goal of the PLA?
• Are there hiring goals associated with the PLA?
• What are the criteria for the disadvantaged classification?
• Are there other transit agencies with similar programs?
• What is the geographic scope of the PLA?
• Will the PLA provide opportunities for new apprentices?
• How will workers be hired under the PLA?
• Will the PLA assist veterans who are seeking employment?

What is the Project Labor Agreement?

The Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is an agreement between Metro and the building trades who are the primary source of labor on Metro construction projects.

What is the goal of the PLA?

The PLA provides for skilled workers, a commitment to no work stoppages, and the ability to implement a targeted hiring program aimed to provide jobs to economically disadvantaged workers.

Are there hiring goals associated with the PLA?

Metro’s PLA includes the following targeted hiring goals: 40% for those residing in economically disadvantaged areas, 10% for those meeting the disadvantaged classification and 20% apprentice hiring. Half of the apprentices are to be from the disadvantaged classification.

What are the criteria for the disadvantaged classification?

Workers who face at least two of the following barriers to employment will be classified as disadvantaged: are homeless; a custodial single parent; receive public assistance; lack a GED or high school diploma; has a history of involvement with the criminal justice system; has experienced chronic unemployment; is emancipated from foster care; is a veteran of the Iraq or Afghanistan wars; is an apprentice with less than 15% of the hours required to graduate journey-level.

Are there other transit agencies with similar programs?

Metro is the first transit agency in the nation to implement a PLA with a targeted hiring program on federally funded projects.

What is the geographic scope of the PLA?

Metro’s PLA will have a locally targeted hire program for projects without federal funding and a nationally targeted hire program for projects which include federal funding.

Will the PLA provide opportunities for new apprentices?

The PLA provides opportunities for new apprentices to develop life-long careers in the construction industry. 20% of the total hours worked on the project will be worked by apprentices with half of the apprentices qualifying as disadvantaged workers.

How will workers be hired under the PLA?

The Los Angeles/Orange County Building Construction Trades Council will be the primary source of construction labor for Metro construction projects covered by the PLA. Contractors, subcontractors and employers who have successfully bid on Metro Projects will engage a jobs coordinator to identify and refer targeted workers.

Will the PLA assist veterans who are seeking employment?

The employers and the Unions agree to coordinate with the center of Military Recruitment, Assessment and Veteran’s Employment to reach out to veterans interested in entering into a career in the construction industry.

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Hiring Requirements

Federal

For projects using Federal Transit Administration (FTA) monies, targeting hiring measures are national in scope and will utilize National Targeted Workers to meet the hiring goals. National Targeted Workers means an individual whose primary place of residence is within an Economically Disadvantaged Area or an Extremely Economically Disadvantaged Area in the United States, or a Disadvantaged Worker. 

The Prime Contractor shall ensure that the following targeted hiring requirements are met for each federally funded project subject to the PLA and CCP, as follows:

• A minimum of 40% of all hours of Project Work shall be performed by National Targeted Workers, with priority given to residents of National Extremely Economically Disadvantaged Areas. For any hour of Project for which the C/S/E seeks to meet this requirements, the C/S/E and Unions must first refer residents of National Extremely Economically Disadvantaged Areas. After Unions and C/S/Es have exhausted the available pool of residents of National Extremely Economically Disadvantaged areas, they may refer any National Targeted Workers.

• A minimum of 10% of all hours of Project Work shall be performed by Disadvantaged Workers.

• A minimum of 20% of total work hours on each project will be performed by apprentices, but the hours performed by apprentices in each individual craft shall not exceed the ratio to journeyman established by the applicable craft union’s Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) approved apprenticeship program. National Targeted Workers will perform 50% of all apprenticeship hours worked on a Project.

Local (Non-Federal)

For projects that rely 100 percent on local funding, hiring can be targeted to Local Targeted workers, meaning a Local Resident, Community Area Resident or a Disadvantaged Worker whose primary place of residence is within Los Angeles County. 

The Prime Contractor shall ensure that the following targeted hiring requirements are met for each non-federally funded project subject to the PLA and CCP, as follows:

• A minimum of 40% of all hours of project work shall be performed by Local Targeted Workers, with priority given to Community Areas Residents.  For any hours of Project work for which the Contractor/Subcontractor/Employer (C/S/E) seeks to meet this requirement, the C/S/E and Unions must first refer Community Area Residents. After Unions and C/S/Es have exhausted the available pool of Community Area Residents, they shall refer any Local Residents from Extremely Economically Disadvantaged areas; when the C/S/Es have exhausted the available pool, they shall refer Local Residents low Economically Disadvantaged areas.

• A minimum of 10% of all hours for Project Work shall be performed by Disadvantaged Workers whose primary place of residence is within Los Angeles County.

• A minimum of 20% of total work hours on each project will be performed by apprentices, but the hours performed by apprentices in each individual craft shall not exceed the ratio to journeyman established by the applicable craft union’s Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) approved apprenticeship standards.  Local Targeted Workers will perform 50% of all apprenticeship hours worked on the Project.