By Karen Robes Meeks
After more than 20 months of negotiations, the Port of Oakland, developer CenterPoint and workforce development activists have emerged with an agreement that would prioritize local hiring for construction at Seaport Logistics Complex.
The agreement will emphasize hiring disadvantaged workers and will feature job-training to create a pool of local labor. It also includes living wages and benefits.
“Community leaders, CenterPoint and the Port demonstrated how large-scale development deals can offer shared benefit to our neighboring community, empower local residents and strengthen our economy,” said Port of Oakland Social Responsibility Director Amy Tharpe. “The goal is to level the playing field and provide community members, regardless of perceived barriers, with priority access to jobs and opportunity.”
The work will involve a 440,000-square-foot distribution facility to be built at the former Oakland Army Base property, the first building at the complex.
"This agreement is part of the growing grassroots movement across the country to win locally and set in motion a wave of larger national change," said Nikki Fortunato Bas, Executive Director of the Partnership for Working Families. "This is how we take back our cities, our communities and our democracy: policy by policy on the local level."
After more than 20 months of negotiations, the Port of Oakland, developer CenterPoint and workforce development activists have emerged with an agreement that would prioritize local hiring for construction at Seaport Logistics Complex.
The agreement will emphasize hiring disadvantaged workers and will feature job-training to create a pool of local labor. It also includes living wages and benefits.
“Community leaders, CenterPoint and the Port demonstrated how large-scale development deals can offer shared benefit to our neighboring community, empower local residents and strengthen our economy,” said Port of Oakland Social Responsibility Director Amy Tharpe. “The goal is to level the playing field and provide community members, regardless of perceived barriers, with priority access to jobs and opportunity.”
The work will involve a 440,000-square-foot distribution facility to be built at the former Oakland Army Base property, the first building at the complex.
"This agreement is part of the growing grassroots movement across the country to win locally and set in motion a wave of larger national change," said Nikki Fortunato Bas, Executive Director of the Partnership for Working Families. "This is how we take back our cities, our communities and our democracy: policy by policy on the local level."