Nonunion Contractors Protest New County Policy
A coalition of nonunion contractors rallied in the rain Wednesday in support of Measure F.
The group, Southern California Contractors for Fairness, is protesting a labor agreement approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, arguing that the deal was struck to buy continued union support for development of a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, which closed last year.
The agreement requires that until 2005 at least 85% of the work force on county projects be union labor. County government historically has not favored organized labor, instead opening projects to union and nonunion companies.
Backers of the agreement, however, say there is no connection to plans for the new airport.
Eric Christen, one of the dozen people who turned out for the rally in Santa Ana, said the labor agreement is the largest of its kind in the county’s history. “If that’s what they’re going to do,” he said, “we’ll make sure the airport is not built.”
If approved by the federal government, an airport could open in 2005 at the former Marine base.
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