SCHOOL PANEL BACKS PROP. BB UNION BID.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Over the objections of nonunion contractors, the Los Angeles Board of Education voted Monday to try to negotiate an agreement that could guarantee much of the $2.4 billion Proposition BB work to union members.

The board authorized Los Angeles Unified School District officials to enter into talks with the Los Angeles County Building and Trades Council and Southern California-Nevada Regional Council of Carpenters. Together they represent more than 125,000 workers.

``I'd like to see as strong a project labor agreement as possible,'' board member Jeff Horton said. ``I'm eager to begin labor negotiations.''

Critics said guaranteeing work to unions would inflate construction costs, hurt the competitive, free-enterprise system and lock out 80 percent of the construction labor force.

``They will be shut out from this work,'' said William Larry Tyler, president of the Los Angeles chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors, which opposes the proposed agreement.

If an agreement is reached by district officials and union representatives, it would be brought to the board for a final vote. Monday's vote to begin negotiations was unanimous with Board member Barbara Boudreaux abstaining.

It was not immediately clear how much of the project work would go to unions under such an agreement. The agreement would call for all contractors, including nonunion workers, to comply with rules for trade unions. The agreement also would include provisions for an apprenticeship program.

``The agreement could benefit the district, students and workers,'' said Richard Slawson, executive secretary of the Los Angeles-Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council.

Proposition BB was passed by voters in April, authorizing $2.4 billion in school repairs, modernization and new construction projects.

``We're all taxpayers,'' said Jackie Keeton, executive vice president of nonunion ABC's Los Angeles chapter. ``We don't feel there should be discrimination because you choose not to be a union member.''

Horton rejected that argument.

``Everyone is free to sign that contract,'' he said. ``We hope to create a system that is fair and open. Nobody will be excluded.''

Board member Victoria Castro said an agreement would give the district an opportunity to ``spend our money most effectively and maximize the participation of residents who live here.''

Other supporters said the agreement would ensure fair wages, guarantee Saturday work and would create jobs for local residents and high school graduates who join the apprenticeship program.

However, nonunion representatives pointed out that state law requires union and nonunion contractors to pay their workers prevailing wages.

``The argument that we cheat our laborers and don't pay them prevailing wages is a fallacy,'' Tyler said.

``We would all pay employees the same wage whether they're union or nonunion,'' Keeton said.

Defending union work, district officials said nonunion contractors account for 39 of 40 labor violations they are investigating. They said the agreement would help ensure that contractors abide by state law.