Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and Workforce Development Policy

SFUSD’s longstanding partnership with the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) and its affiliated labor organizations is an important part of the District’s ability to deliver a successful Bond Program, bringing together the District and organized labor around a shared commitment to high-quality school facilities, a skilled local workforce, and opportunities for the next generation of workers. Through this partnership, SFUSD has historically utilized a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) to establish consistent labor standards and procedures for covered Bond-funded construction projects and to support labor stability and a highly skilled workforce.

The District and BCTC have negotiated a new 2026 Project Labor Agreement for SFUSD Bond-Funded Projects that builds on this longstanding partnership while aligning the agreement with the scale and priorities of the current Bond Program. The 2026 PLA is intended to promote labor stability, safe and efficient project delivery, and responsible stewardship of voter-approved Bond funds, while expanding apprenticeship, workforce development, and career-connected learning opportunities for San Francisco residents and SFUSD students.

The 2026 PLA resulted from a several-month collaborative negotiation process among District staff, BCTC leadership, and representatives of the affiliated building trades. The process provided an opportunity to review the District’s existing agreement in depth, identify shared priorities, and develop updated provisions that reflect both the needs of the District’s current Bond Program and a mutual commitment to strengthening workforce and career opportunities connected to SFUSD construction.

The 2026 PLA works in concert with the Student Career Pathways and Workforce Development Policy (Workforce Policy), creating a coordinated framework that leverages the District’s significant investment in school facilities to expand student career pathways, apprenticeship opportunities, and access to construction careers for San Francisco residents.

The Workforce Policy specifically focuses on establishing meaningful pathways for SFUSD students and local workers into careers in the building and construction trades, and related architecture, engineering and construction careers.

Development of the Policy included in-depth review and collaboration with SFUSD’s College and Career Readiness (CCR) team, as well as a several-month engagement process with the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) and its affiliated trades. The Policy also draws from and closely mirrors the City and County of San Francisco’s local hiring framework, adapting that established approach to SFUSD’s unique role as both a major public works owner and an educational institution.

For further information on the PLA and Workforce Policy, email John Dutch, Bond Program Director of Construction, at dutchj1@sfusd.edu.

Helpful Resources and Links:

• Project Labor Agreement approved at September 22, 2026 Board of Education meeting (Resolution here)
• Workforce Policy approved at September 22, 2026 Board of Education meeting 
• 2016 Prop A Bond Project Labor Agreement