Union workers celebrated with a pizza party outside the Eugene Brucker Education Center after San Diego Unified School District’s board of trustees voted to approve the union Project Labor Agreement. The agreement lays out guidelines for worker benefits and compensation during projects stemming from the $2.1 billion Proposition S school facilities construction bond approved by voters in November of 2008. The agreement establishes union apprenticeship programs, encourages local hiring, requires contractors to provide healthcare benefits equal to those provided by unions and requires workers to go through a union hiring process to work on projects. The agreement also requires employees to pay dues to the San Diego Education Foundation or other established pre-apprenticeship program, according to the agreement. Part of the agreement requires placement of union apprentices on projects over nonunion apprentices. Opponents of the agreement say the requirements will force some employees and apprentices to join unions to compete for job placement, said Eric Christen, director for the Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction. “That means our nonunion guys are pretty much discriminated against,” he said. Other groups opposed to the agreement include: the San Diego divisions of the Associated General Contractors, the Associated Builders and Contractors and Western Electrical Contractors Association. Board trustee John de Beck voted against the agreement because he said it’s not fair to nonunion apprentices. “It basically means that [non-union] apprentices are at the end of the line,” de Beck said. But supporters of the agreement said the agreement creates a pathway to a career and job security for many workers. “Without a PLA you’re just temporary workers,” said 15-year union construction worker William Stedham. Tom Lemmon, a business manager and a principal advocate for the agreement, said the board’s decision is a huge step forward for San Diego. “It changes the playing field and shows that workers have a voice,” he said. “It created a pathway to healthcare for all workers under Prop S –and their families.” The board voted 3-2 to approve the agreement. Board members Katherine Nakamura and de Beck voted against it. Board president Shelia Jackson, John Lee Evans and Richard Barrera voted in favor of the agreement. The board next meets Tuesday, June 9, at 5 p.m. at the Eugene Brucker Education Center Auditorium, 4100 Normal St.