CITY SYSTEMS & LABOR RIGHTS

Creating a More Just Labor Landscape

Currently, Oakland makes heavy use of Temporary/Part-Time (TPT) workers. Why? As a cost-cutting measure: the city doesn’t have to pay full benefits for part-time workers, and cannibalizes temporary positions for “flexible” funding. The cost of this, beyond instability for the workers themselves, is a larger sapping of the strength of our city and, by extension, our democracy.

Oakland loses its ability to implement programs or conduct oversight when it continually operates at partial capacity. We shouldn’t compromise our values to match our weakened budget; we need to realign our budget with our values. Moving money, tapping reserves, exploring progressive revenue streams—we can and must do all of these to ensure that Oakland maintains a well-treated and well-funded workforce.

Similarly, as I’ve stated in all of my forums and questionnaires for various labor groups, I support Oakland finally adopting a baseline Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the entire city. Anyone that the City of Oakland contracts with must abide by modern standards when it comes to employment and benefits.

By ending reliance on TPT labor and adopting a PLA, we can create a more just labor landscape which makes it more difficult for subcontractors to undercut our commitments to labor justice.

 I believe in the power of labor unions and the need for fair and equitable employment practices. Oakland needs progressive leadership to fight for the rights of all workers, and to fix our broken systems.