City of Columbus, Central Ohio Building Trades, will Sign Historic Community Benefit Agreement

The City of Columbus and the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council are set to sign a historic agreement.

On Oct. 31 at 10 a.m., the city will sign its first-ever Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) with the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council for construction of the City of Columbus Fire Station #35.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther is set to sign a Community Benefits Agreement with the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council on Oct. 31.

The historic signing will occur at Firefighters Union Hall Local 67 at 379 West Broad St. in Columbus.

This historic CBA, the first such agreement between the City of Columbus and the CCOBCTC, will mandate that all contractors awarded contracts for the construction of the Fire Station #35 will be required to utilize highly skilled local workers from the local Building Trades unions.

A CBA is a prehire, collective bargaining agreement with one or more labor organizations that establishes the terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project.

CBAs allow the project owner and unions to negotiate on terms of employment, including pay, benefits, hours, leave and safety policies. Project owners are able to resolve issues at the bargaining level rather than through conflict, which ensures labor peace and reduces employee turnover by promoting open communication and job security.

By signing the CBA, all individuals working on this project will be paid prevailing wages.

Additionally, the CBA sets forth a historic commitment by the Columbus/Central Ohio Building Trades and the City of Columbus to provide training opportunities in the construction industry to city residents. These training programs will help diversify the local construction industry and provide good-paying careers for many in economically underserved areas of Columbus.

“Mayor Ginther’s signing of this Community Benefit Agreement represents an enormous opportunity for both the Building Trades and the city,” said Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council. “The Building Trades has been leading the charge to expand the number of skilled craftspeople in Central Ohio and diversification of our workforce. This partnership will provide the city highly trained, local, skilled journeymen and women who will complete this project on time and on budget while creating career opportunities in the building trades.”

The media is invited to attend this historic signing.