2019: Jim Desmond Voted Against A Project Labor Agreement With Local Unions For An Airport Construction Project, Calling It “Discrimination,” Despite Being A Union Member Himself

2022: Desmond Called Project Labor Agreements “The Antithesis” Of Equality

2022: Desmond Called Project Labor Agreements “The Antithesis” Of Equity. “The San Diego County Board of Supervisors heard proposals Wednesday to help workers succeed in a carbon-free economy. […] Desmond took issue with the workforce plan requiring project labor agreements for all building decarbonization projects. Also known as community workforce agreements, PLAs involve collective bargaining with labor organizations to set employment terms and conditions. Desmond said PLAs could discriminate against non-union workers, and are ‘the antithesis’ to equity.” [Patch, 3/17/22]

• Desmond Voted To Receive A Draft Of The Integrated Regional Decarbonization Framework, But Opposed Any Project Labor Agreements. “Supervisors voted unanimously to receive a draft of the Integrated Regional Decarbonization Framework, which includes a workforce development study, and let the county negotiate a contract with the University of San Diego for related consulting services. […] ‘Everyone should have a fair chance,’ said Desmond, a former commercial airline pilot who belonged to a union for over 30 years, but won't support any PLA requirement and urged residents who agreed to make their voices heard. Fletcher said state law forbids discrimination with PLAs in the bidding process. Desmond countered that the law only applies in the bidding process. Fletcher replied that Desmond didn't understand state law, and the board could hold a future meeting on the PLA process.” [Patch, 3/17/22]

April 2019: As An Airport Authority Board Member, Desmond Voted Against A Project Labor Agreement With Local Unions For The Reconstruction Of Terminal 1

April 2019: As An Airport Authority Board Member, Desmond Voted Against A Project Labor Agreement For The Reconstruction Of Terminal 1. “Supervisor Jim Desmond seems to be making a move to be a leader of conservatives in San Diego. He’s become the main detractor to the big shifts the county has made since Supervisor Nathan Fletcher came aboard the same time he did. He’s also the chief antagonist to SANDAG’s new executive director, Hasan Ikrhata. Friday he sent out a statement bemoaning the Airport Authority’s decision last week to begin negotiations on requiring contractors do a project labor agreement with local unions for the upcoming reconstruction of Terminal 1. He is a member of the Airport Authority board, and voted against it.” [Voice of San Diego, 4/15/19]

Under Project Labor Agreements, Unions Agreed Never To Stop Work And All Workers Passed Through Union Halls. “With project labor agreements, unions agree to guarantee there will be enough workers and to never stop work on the job and, in exchange, all workers must pass through the union halls with associated fees and benefits for them. They don’t necessarily have to be union members but it certainly benefits unions.” [Voice of San Diego, 4/15/19]

2019: Desmond Called Project Labor Agreements “Discrimination” And Said “Labor Union Bosses” Wanted Work Rules For Financial Gain

2019: In Discussing Project Labor Agreements, Desmond Said, “I’m Not Anti-Union […] But I Draw The Line At Discrimination.” “Friday he sent out a statement bemoaning the Airport Authority’s decision last week to begin negotiations on requiring contractors do a project labor agreement with local unions for the upcoming reconstruction of Terminal 1. […] What makes this a bit awkward is that Desmond is himself a union member. He’s a pilot with Delta Air Lines, a member of a union that would most certainly not allow large numbers of nonunion pilots to get gigs. He addressed the irony at the Airport Authority meeting. ‘I’m in a union. I’m not anti-union. But — and I’ve seen some of the benefits of being in the union. I’ve reaped some of those over my career. But I draw the line at discrimination,’ he said.” [Voice of San Diego, 4/15/19]

Desmond: “The Labor Union Bosses Desperately Want These Work Rules Because It Allows Them To Build Up Union Bank Accounts.” “Supervisor Jim Desmond seems to be making a move to be a leader of conservatives in San Diego. […] ‘If you are not a member of this select group, you will not apply your trade on the biggest construction project in the airport’s history. Unless you join the group, the door is shut on you,’ he wrote. […] ‘The labor union bosses desperately want these work rules because it allows them to build up union bank accounts,’ he said.” [Voice of San Diego, 4/15/19]

As A Pilot, Desmond Was A Union Member And Said He Had “Seen Some Of The Benefits Of Being In The Union”

As A Pilot, Desmond Was A Union Member. “What makes this a bit awkward is that Desmond is himself a union member. He’s a pilot with Delta Air Lines, a member of a union that would most certainly not allow large numbers of nonunion pilots to get gigs.” [Voice of San Diego, 4/15/19]

• Voice Of San Diego Headline: “Desmond, A Union Guy, Blasted Unions On Airport Vote.” [Voice of San Diego, 4/15/19]

Desmond: “I’ve Seen Some Of The Benefits Of Being In The Union. I’ve Reaped Some Of Those Over My Career.” “What makes this a bit awkward is that Desmond is himself a union member. He’s a pilot with Delta Air Lines, a member of a union that would most certainly not allow large numbers of nonunion pilots to get gigs. He addressed the irony at the Airport Authority meeting. ‘I’m in a union. I’m not anti-union. But — and I’ve seen some of the benefits of being in the union. I’ve reaped some of those over my career. But I draw the line at discrimination,’ he said.” [Voice of San Diego, 4/15/19]