Spokane Municipal Code

Title 07 Finance

Chapter 07.06 Procurement of Goods, Services and Works

Article XI. Priority Hire Program

Section 07.06.840 Model Community Workforce Agreement

 

1. The City of Spokane shall develop, via good faith negotiations with NE Washington/N Idaho Building & Construction Trades Council, its affiliates, and any other labor organization performing work covered by a CWA, a model CWA to serve as a template for  each public works project requiring the utilization of priority hire and similar social impact requirements under this chapter.  The model community workforce agreement shall:

1. 1. Include terms and conditions for the utilization of priority hire workers;

1. 2. Include a provision that the NE Washington/N Idaho Building & Construction Trades Council, its affiliates, and any other labor organization performing work covered by a CWA, are the exclusive representatives for workers on applicable projects;

1. 3. Include a dispute resolution procedure;

1. 4. Require that a minimum twenty-five (25%) percent of all labor hours in each trade on a construction project requiring the utilization of priority hire under this chapter be performed by priority hire workers.  Labor hours completed by priority hire apprentices pursuant to a community workforce agreement may also be counted towards fulfillment of apprenticeship labor hour requirements under an apprentice utilization plan as described in SMC 07.06.750;

1. 5. Include provisions for pre-construction meetings;

1. 6. Include provisions for pre-job meetings;

1. 7. Include provisions to ensure a respectful workplace that is inclusive and focuses on nondiscrimination and antiharassment behaviors and provides procedures for workers to address concerns;

1. 8. Include provision for the recruitment, retention and mentoring of construction workers, including priority hire workers, and workers who reside in the City of Spokane as they advance from apprentice positions into journey level positions;

1. 9. Include an order of precedence provision that includes any applicable collective bargaining agreements in the order of precedence after the model community workforce agreement;

1. 10. Where free and ample parking is not available at a public works construction project, include provisions to ensure vehicle parking at or nearby, or alternatively, at a dedicated parking area from which the contractor provides transportation, all at no cost to workers;

1. 11. Be structured to streamline paperwork and reporting requirements;

1. 12. Include a requirement that all contractors provide full-family health care benefits and company-paid retirement benefits under an established plan in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) that is adequate and commensurate with industry standards;

1. 13. Ensure full prevailing wage compliance.  Design a model that allows for the verification of employer contributions of the benefit requirements listed above and allows the city the ability to track the contributions for compliance reporting;

2. If the City of Spokane is unable to negotiate and execute a model community workforce agreement despite good faith efforts, the City will develop and execute a community workforce agreement specific to each public works project, which must contain terms and conditions for the use of priority hire workers as well as provisions related to a respectful workplace.

3. Contractors who submit work bids on public works construction projects requiring the utilization of priority hire under this chapter shall evidence good faith efforts that the contractor can reasonably make to meet the requirements of this chapter, including the percentage labor hour requirements, that are consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable community workforce agreement.

 

Date Passed: Monday, August 25, 2025

Effective Date: Sunday, October 12, 2025

ORD C36723 Section 1