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City of Spokane “Public Dollars for Public Benefit” Ordinance – AGC Update

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City of Spokane "Public Dollars for Public Benefit" Ordinance

The Spokane City Council is considering a new ordinance - “The Public Dollars for Public Benefit Act” (ORD C36723) - that would require a mandatory Community Workforce Agreement (CWA) on all public works projects over $5 million.

At first glance, the ordinance appears focused on local hiring and workforce inclusion - goals we all support. But in practice, this mandate would significantly limit who can bid on public projects, displace current workers, increase costs, and add new layers of red tape that will hurt both union and open-shop contractors.

Why We're Opposed

Both union and non-union contractors in our association are united in their opposition to this ordinance:

  • Non-union contractors would be forced to replace their existing crews and apprentices with union-dispatched workers - losing control of their workforce and driving down employee take-home pay.
  • Union contractors would be subject to redundant requirements that conflict with their existing collective bargaining agreements, while also losing input on key workforce terms.
  • Trusted local subcontractors - many of whom are small or minority-owned - could be shut out for refusing to sign onto a project labor agreement.
  • The administrative burden to contractors and the City alike would be substantial, and project costs will rise while competition shrinks.

Simply put, this ordinance creates more problems than it solves.

What We Support Instead

We support the City’s goal of local hiring - but this isn’t the way to do it. We're asking the Council to work with contractors on practical, flexible solutions, such as hiring incentives, outreach to underserved communities, and pre-apprenticeship partnerships that don’t exclude local businesses or workers.

How You Can Help

We need your voice - right now.

Together, we can help protect local jobs, support practical workforce solutions, and ensure Spokane’s construction industry remains open to all qualified contractors.

With questions or for additional information, please reach out to AGC Executive Director Cheryl Stewart at cstewart@nwagc.org or at (509) 535-0391.

City of Spokane Contact Information:

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