We discovered the PLA, thanks to Labor Issues Solutions' Kevin Dayton, only six weeks ago when it was discovered that unions had requested and been given an opportunity to tout the highlights of PLAs in January at the college's trustee meeting. Alerted CFEC and our allies sprang into action and by the next meeting more than 150 local citizens packed the board room to make the board aware that they had made a grave error. Then Wednesday CFEC and our allies were given equal time to present, formally, our case via a 30 minute presentation, something that was done most effectively.

The presentation kicked off with the San Luis Obispo Builders Exchange's fearless leader Leslie Halls giving opening remarks. She then handed the baton off to ABC of Central California's Russell Johnson who showed a very effective video touting ABC's world class apprentice programs while explaining to the board that a PLA would make it impossible for merit shop apprentices to be used under a PLA. Next up was the Western Electrical Contractors' (WECA) Richard Markuson who handed out and explained a powerful sheet showing how much money a merit shop worker would lose by working under a PLA. CFEC's Eric Christen then closed the presentation with a PowerPoint that highlighted the waste, fraud, and abuse associated with PLAs.

CFEC's Eric Christen makes presentation to Cuesta College Board of Trustees

The presentation was followed by members of the public being given time to speak and here the anti-PLA speakers not

only outnumbered the pro-PLA side, but were superior qualitatively as well.

Then came board discussion and it was clear immediately that our educational campaign had paid off. Trustee Sysak led things off by claiming that he couldn't imagine why the college would consider limiting competition and that if a PLA did come up for a vote, he'd be against it. Trustee Mitchel posed a brilliant question to staff when she asked staff if the college had suffered any strikes or work stoppages on previous projects, to which they responded they had not. Trustee Hitchman said that while he was a union guy and "pro-labor", he could not vote for something that would discriminate against workers. The conversation went on a little longer with Board President Mullen stating that unless there was a motion to proceed further with a PLA discussion the college would continue to bid work as is. And with that the issue died.

With the first bonds having been approved to be sold earlier in the meeting the college will soon have work for local contractors to bid and work on, while taxpayers will get the best bang for their buck they can. This is great news and we encourage everyone to please contact the board and let them know much you appreciate their lack of action on a PLA.