The Board Voted. The Fight for Fair Bidding Isn't Over.
Breaking Update — April 28, 2026
On Tuesday, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to adopt a Community Workforce Training Agreement — a policy that shapes who gets to work on county-funded projects and what it costs taxpayers.
The vote is done. But the details of how this agreement is structured are still being negotiated — and that’s where your voice matters most right now.
What's Being Decided Right Now
On April 28, 2026, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to adopt a
Community Workforce Training Agreement — a policy that determines how public construction projects are awarded and who gets to work on them.
The vote happened. But the details of how this agreement is structured are still being
negotiated. What’s decided in those negotiations will determine:
• Who gets the opportunity to work
• Which businesses are able to compete
• How public tax dollars are spent
For the majority of Valley workers and local businesses — the outcome of those negotiations could mean the difference between being included or being left out.
Why This Matters
This comes down to three things: access, fairness, and cost.
For local workers, it determines whether they can take part in projects happening in their own community — regardless of their union status.
For small and mid-sized businesses, it affects whether they can compete on a level playing field or get pushed out before the first bid is submitted.
For taxpayers, agreements like this consistently increase project costs — and those costs come directly out of the public budget.
These are real decisions with real consequences for real people.
Voices From The Community
Workers. Business owners. Taxpayers.
They didn’t lobby for this agreement. They didn’t get a Friday afternoon email about it. But, they’re the ones who will live with the outcome.
Across San Joaquin County, people are speaking up — sharing what this decision means for their jobs, their businesses, and their families.
This is where those voices come together.
What Was Voted On
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to adopt a Community Workforce Training Agreement (CWTA) — a policy that sets the terms for how public construction projects are awarded.
Under agreements like this, contractors are typically required to operate under union labor terms. That means most non-union contractors — and the workers they employ — cannot compete for county-funded projects, even if they are fully qualified and locally based.
Negotiations on the final structure of this agreement are still ongoing. The details decided in those negotiations will determine how broadly — or how narrowly — local workers and businesses can participate.
Open Bidding vs. Restricted Agreements
When public projects go through open, competitive bidding, any qualified contractor can submit a bid — regardless of union affiliation. More competition means lower costs and broader local participation.
When a CWTA or PLA is in place, only contractors who agree to union labor terms can participate. In San Joaquin County, that excludes approximately 85% of the local construction workforce — skilled tradespeople who are non-union.
Independent research consistently shows that restricted agreements increase public
construction costs by 12–18% on average. Those costs are paid by taxpayers.
What Happens Next
The vote happened — but the agreement isn’t finalized. Negotiations between the county and the Building Trades Council are ongoing, and the details of how this agreement is structured are still being worked out.
That means the window for community input is not closed. The supervisors who represent you are still hearing from constituents. Your message — sent now, during active negotiations — carries real weight.
Two supervisors already went on record saying the process lacked transparency. The community deserves to have its voice in the conversation before the final terms are set.
The Window To Act Is Open
These discussions are ongoing — and community awareness matters. Understanding what’s being considered is the first step.