LA labour deals to keep expansion on budget

America’s top container port, the Port of Los Angeles has signed a five-year labour agreement committing to the creation of some 20,000 jobs.

The Port Labour Agreement covers 41 public port projects over the next five years – including expansion of terminals and a rail yard – and covers 95% of the port’s projected $1.5bn five-year capital budget.

“With this PLA, we are improving the LA Waterfront with critical infrastructure projects and at the same time, creating thousands of local jobs,” said Harbor Commission president Cindy Miscikowski. “And this agreement saves valuable negotiating time so that we can keep the port’s five year, $1.5bn capital improvement project on schedule.”

Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn added that “expanding and greening” the port will create “more, good jobs” in the city and help prop up a faltering construction sector.

The labour agreement bans strikes and lockouts and will channel at least 30% of the work towards people living within 10 miles of the port.