Berkeley Council Passes Ordinance to Support Housing Development, Local Hiring and Labor Standards

May 3, 2023

BERKELEY COUNCIL PASSES ORDINANCE TO SUPPORT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL HIRING AND LABOR STANDARDS

The ordinance calls for improved standards to support recruitment, training, and retention of skilled construction workers local to the Berkeley community

Construction workers attend the May 2nd Council meeting on the approval of the HARD HATS Ordinance.

BERKELEY, CA - Last night, the Berkeley City Council passed a first reading of an ordinance called the Helping Achieve Responsible Development with Healthcare and Apprenticeship Training Standards (HARD HATS) ordinance, which would require apprenticeship programs and healthcare coverage for all developments of at least 50,000 square feet in Berkeley.

“In recent years we have seen labor shortages caused in part by a lack of adequate benefits and wages, which is especially true in the construction industry”, said Mayor Arreguin. “The HARD HATS proposal is a win-win, supporting blue-collar workers and enhancing productivity at construction sites.” 

There is currently a labor shortage of skilled construction workers, which comes at a time when cities across the state are being asked to construct more housing. In Berkeley, 15,000 units (not including student housing), could be built by 2030 under its most recent Housing Element approved earlier this year. Issues such as reduced utilization of state-approved apprenticeships, fewer young labor force entrants, and dwindling contractor offerings of health and retirement plans are threatening to stall many developments. 

The ordinance will help meet the City’s housing production goals by reducing construction delays on affordable housing due to a lack of skilled workers, in addition to providing adequate healthcare to employees in a job that has higher rates of injuries compared to other industries (one out of five insurance claims for a significant injury involves a construction worker, despite making up one out of 25 jobs in California). Advancing apprenticeship programs and training will also improve safety and worker retention. 

First proposed in September 2022, the Mayor hosted a press conference with various labor and construction unions to introduce the item. This took place at 600 Addison St, a construction site home to the future Berkeley Commons, a Research & Development office complex and lab space in the heart of Berkeley’s manufacturing district that would accommodate 1,600 jobs. The development is expected to be completed later this year.

“The City of Berkeley has a reputation for innovation and progressive policies, and we are proud to support the HARD HATS Ordinance”, said Andreas Cluver, Secretary-Treasurer Building & Construction Trades Council of Alameda County. “These standards will help to ensure that workers are treated fairly and with dignity, while also promoting job quality and stability.”

A second and final reading of the ordinance is expected later this month, which will finalize adoption of the ordinance.