Business Details
Union Construction Experts Building Southern California's Future
The Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building Trades represents over 160,000 skilled union construction workers across 48 local unions in Southern California. Our organization has dedicated decades to ensuring that landmark projectsfrom transportation systems and schools to renewable energy developmentsare built with union labor, delivering high-quality results that benefit communities. We prioritize policies that support career growth, inclusive hiring, and sustainable union growth across the region. Our members have secured significant funding for union-built affordable housing and continue to advocate for public and private projects that strengthen infrastructure. With a focus on Project Labor Agreements and Community Workforce Agreements, we guarantee timely, budget-conscious delivery while promoting local hiring and diversity.Our expertise spans energy production, private development, and public infrastructure, ensuring safety, quality, and environmental responsibility. We champion investments in roads, bridges, schools, and transit systems that keep California connected and moving forward. Our team works tirelessly to implement union standards, create middle-class careers, and deliver community benefits through every project we support. We also provide apprenticeship programs that offer paid training, hands-on experience, and excellent benefits to build the next generation of skilled workers. Our leadership and commitment to excellence make us a trusted partner for developers, policymakers, and communities seeking reliable, high-standard construction solutions.
Services
Union Construction Projects
Project Labor Agreements
Apprenticeship Programs
Community Workforce Agreements
Infrastructure Development
Highlights and features
- We represent 160,000+ skilled union construction workers with expertise in large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Our Project Labor Agreements ensure on-time, on-budget delivery with local hiring and diversity goals.
- We secure funding for union-built affordable housing and advocate for sustainable development policies.
- Our apprenticeship programs train the next generation of construction professionals with paid, hands-on experience.
- We partner with developers to deliver high-quality, safety-compliant private and public construction projects.
Services
Union Construction Projects
We oversee union-built construction projects including transportation systems, schools, renewable energy facilities, and housing developments. Our skilled workforce ensures high-quality results while adhering to safety and environmental standards. These projects create family-supporting careers and deliver long-term community benefits through public-private partnerships.
Project Labor Agreements
We facilitate legally binding Project Labor Agreements between employers and unions to guarantee union labor usage, on-time delivery, and local hiring goals. These agreements reduce costs, prevent work stoppages, and ensure quality outcomes for infrastructure projects while creating pathways to middle-class careers for workers.
Apprenticeship Programs
Our apprenticeship programs provide paid training, hands-on experience, and benefits to develop skilled construction professionals. Participants gain expertise in trades like sheet metal work, electrical installation, and pipefitting through structured on-the-job learning and classroom instruction, ensuring a qualified workforce for future projects.
Community Workforce Agreements
We implement Community Workforce Agreements that prioritize local hiring and diversity in construction projects. These agreements create equitable access to union jobs, strengthen neighborhood ties, and ensure that development projects contribute to sustainable economic growth and community prosperity in Southern California.
Infrastructure Advocacy
We advocate for public investments in roads, bridges, schools, and transit systems that strengthen regional connectivity and create union jobs. Our efforts focus on securing funding for critical infrastructure projects while balancing innovation with environmental responsibility to support California's long-term development needs.
People
Ernesto Medrano
Executive Secretary
Ernesto Medrano leads the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building Trades with over 20 years of experience in labor relations and workforce development. He champions policies that expand union opportunities and improve working conditions across Southern California's construction industry.
Chad Boggio
Chief of Staff, Council Representative
Chad Boggio serves as Chief of Staff, coordinating council operations and representing members in policy discussions. With extensive knowledge of construction labor dynamics, he works to advance union priorities and secure favorable project agreements for workers in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Andrew Gonzales
Orange County Representative
Andrew Gonzales advocates for Orange County union workers, focusing on local hiring initiatives and project labor agreements. His efforts ensure that construction projects in the region meet high standards for quality, safety, and workforce diversity while creating sustainable career opportunities.
Eddie Escot Alvarez
Los Angeles County Representative
Eddie Escot Alvarez represents Los Angeles County union members, promoting policies that expand apprenticeship access and improve job site conditions. He collaborates with developers and policymakers to advance infrastructure projects that benefit both workers and local communities through union labor partnerships.
Velia Archuleta
Sheet Metal Worker
Velia Archuleta, a Sheet Metal Local 105 member, exemplifies success through our apprenticeship programs. She credits the WINTER program and ARF initiative for providing her career transformation, now contributing to major construction projects while inspiring others in non-traditional trade roles.
Questions
What types of construction projects does your council represent?
We represent union workers on infrastructure projects including transportation systems, schools, renewable energy facilities, housing developments, and major commercial projects like stadiums and convention centers across Southern California.
How can developers partner with your organization for construction projects?
Developers can implement Project Labor Agreements with our council to ensure access to skilled union labor, on-time delivery, and local hiring compliance. Contact our team to discuss partnership opportunities for public or private construction projects.
Do you offer apprenticeship programs for aspiring construction workers?
Yes, we provide paid apprenticeship programs with hands-on training and benefits across multiple trades. These programs prepare participants for careers in sheet metal work, electrical installation, pipefitting, and other skilled construction fields.
What are Project Labor Agreements and their benefits?
Project Labor Agreements are contracts ensuring union labor usage on construction projects. Benefits include cost predictability, no work stoppages, quality assurance, and meeting local hiring/diversity goals while creating sustainable career pathways for workers.
How does your council support affordable housing development?
We've helped secure $700 million annually for union-built affordable housing in LA and Orange Counties, ensuring quality construction while creating family-supporting jobs through partnerships with policymakers and housing developers.
What geographic areas do you serve?
Our council represents workers and projects throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties, covering 122 cities with a workforce of 160,000+ union construction professionals across 48 local unions.
