Supporting Union Jobs, Protecting Rural Elk Grove
But the future of union employment in Sacramento County does not hinge on approval of these 499 homes
by Connie Conley
At the Nov. 5 Elk Grove Planning Commission meeting, union representatives spoke in support of the Summer Villas project. Their support raises a fair question: Have the applicants committed to using union labor to build the proposed 499 homes? I did not hear such a commitment stated at the meeting. Residents deserve a clear answer about the jobs being offered as a reason to approve this project.
My Dad was a union man all his life. Growing up, my siblings and I wouldn’t have dreamed of crossing a picket line. Because of his union, our family had good healthcare even in the 1960s—something too many American families still struggle to access today. My respect for organized labor is deeply personal.
But the future of union employment in Sacramento County does not hinge on approval of these 499 homes. Major projects, including the Sacramento International Airport expansion, offer other opportunities. That expansion has a workforce agreement with the Sacramento-Sierra Building & Construction Trades Council and 18 local unions.
The Summer Villas proposal should be judged on sound planning principles. Any promises of union construction jobs should be backed by clear, specific commitments—not used to pressure the Elk Grove City Council into overturning the denial.
Good construction jobs and responsible planning can go hand in hand. We urge the Elk Grove City Council to support development in areas planned for growth while honoring the rural protections in our General Plan. Working families deserve both good livelihoods and confidence that the communities they call home will be respected.
