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Thousands of Voting Union Families
Contribute to the Central Valley! The use of Prevailing Wages, Project Labor Agreements and Union Workers in the Central Valley is not a Union vs. Non-Union issue.
It's a taxpayer issue!
Unions have been organized in the Central Valley for well over 100 years. Many trades were primary contributors to the construction of nearly every city and town in the valley. In 2002, 26 building and construction trade locals, three Building Trades Councils and ten apprenticeship programs are located throughout the valley with over 20,000 members. In addition, there are five Central Labor Councils, representing over 195,000 union members such as firefighters, police officers, teachers, emergency personnel and many other occupations. Their thousands of members, families and retirees contribute millions of dollars to the valley economy every year.
It's a health system issue!
In the last five years, over 25 hospitals have closed in California. Most of these were health care systems located in small cities or rural areas. But even large hospitals have had difficulty meeting the needs of their patients, doctors, insurers and regulators.
Union families enjoy the benefits of hard-won benefit packages that include decent health care and pension benefits. Because these benefits allow them to use local health care systems, they contribute to the long term viability of local health care providers.
By contrast, very few non-union contractors provide health care and pension benefits equal to that routinely provided by unions. As a result, many workers receive sub-standard wages, working virtually part-time with little or no benefits. Major studies have found that these workers have no choice but to use public health care and emergency rooms for health needs, putting an enormous strain on these systems. By failing to provide these benefits, contractors shift the burden from themselves to the taxpayers.
It's an issue for voters!
Unions spend millions of dollars every year providing voter education, information and registering their members and other members of the public to vote. They know that the best voter is a well-informed voter. In 2002, the thousands of working families in the Central Valley know they will have to make important choices between candidates for many important public offices. Union members and their families are taxpayers who will choose public officials who understand the needs of California's working families.
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