Posted Thursday, April 09, 2007; 11:18 p.m.

Unions, Lynwood unite for NFL dream The city of Lynwood has paired up with multiple unions to create the first comprehensive plan for the new NFL stadium. The arena will be a cooperative effort between the city and the construction unions.

By Chiara Canzi
The L.A. Pilot

LYNWOOD, Calif. -- The city of Lynwood’s proposed plan for a NFL 70,000-seat stadium is said to generate needed retail revenue for the struggling city and a permanent wave of 20,000 to 25,000 unionized jobs with a standardized set of federal benefits, said the developers of the plan.
           
The developers and local union political representatives are currently working together to establish the parameters of the soon-to-be-signed Labor Project Agreement. This agreement is an accord between unions, developers and the city government to define conditions over work rules, wages, benefits and a non-strike policy for all workers involved in the construction of the stadium.

John McDonald, managing partner of Imperial Partners, LLC created a design that would internalize the recruiting of the labor on the proposed shopping complex and three hotels. “Demographically, the largest age group in Lynwood is 22-35 year olds,” said McDonald. “There is a lot of expandable income, where people can spend a lot of money and still benefit by it in the community,” he said.

Although an impact study has not been published yet, Marketing and Grants Manager for the city Laura Alderete said the project would have the potential to improve the economic condition of Lynwood. “A project of this magnitude would add a lot of life to an area that is in the lurks right now,” she said.

“It would bring in outside dollars, instead of finding that people are going outside the city to do their shopping.”

With the labor agreement is still under negotiation, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Political Representative Rusty Hicks cautions on the possibility for inflated figures on the actual number of union jobs created by the plan. “I am not sure there will be 25,000 jobs at the end of the negotiation,” he said. “I know sometimes developers tend to exaggerate.”

But Secretary Treasurer of the Building and Construction Trade Council Richard Slawson guarantees the moral commitment McDonald has shown over the years of dealing with unionized contracts. “John is deeply committed to have the best wages possible for the workers,” he said. “We rely on his commitment because he is a man of his word.”

The creation of 25,000 new permanent unionized jobs is legitimate said Slawson, who has built a personal relationship with McDonald. “The project will see 5,000 construction workers at the pick of the project at any given time,” said Slawson. “I can say the permanent jobs way outweigh the temporary jobs.”

“I want local agencies involved in the project so to ensure the buildings are managed by residents,” said McDonald. “The plan will make space for affordable homes for the poor, good, solid apartments and finally senior apartments.” McDonald wants to create an oasis of wealth for a city that has been victim of government corruption and is currently in a state of economic stall. “Let’s give the people a chance to the American Dream,” he said.

The packaged deal given to union members includes higher wages than non-union contract workers. The hourly wage for a construction hand would be between $28 and $30. The benefit package includes benefit funds, medical coverage, paid training, trading and a sumptuous retirement plan. “One often intended feature is a strong retirement in the contract negotiation,” said Slawson. Most of the revenue earned by a company in a given year is in turn redistributed monthly in trust funds for all workers. “All the money is to and for the benefits of the employees,” said Slawson.

The negotiation of the labor agreement for the Lynwood NFL stadium project is between McDonald, the Building and Construction Trade Council and the city. “The timeline for the LPA depends on the city now,” said Slawson. The city will need to provide the developer with a notice to proceed before the actual work can begin. “We would expect to have an agreement ready and signed a month or so after that,” said Slawson.

Once the agreement with the construction unions have been signed, the craft unions can begin their own negotiations. “As of now, we are waiting on the building an construction agreement to go through,” said Kevin Norton, field representative for the International Brotherhood of the Electrical Workers. Norton said it is too early in the game for craft unions to be contacted regarding specifics with the negotiations.

Photos courtesy of The L.A. Pilot

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The city of Lynwood's future is in the hands of the National Football League

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One of the unions participating in the comprehensive NFL plan

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