Community Benefits Agreements 101

Year

2022

Region

National

Language

English

Issue Area

[Pick Issue Area from the list below]

Clean energy, Clean mobility, Advanced technology manufacturing, Service sector workers, Environmental justice, Worker organizing, Equitable workforce development

Description

CBAs are a powerful tool for driving equitable economic development, especially in the rapidly growing green transportation sector. Through collaboration and commitment, JMA and our partners are ensuring that these public investments translate into real benefits for workers and local communities.

What are the basics of a solid CBA? 

Melanie J. Prasad, JMA’s Legal Director, spoke at “Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) 101” hosted by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of the Secretary in collaboration with the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity on June 24, 2022. The goal was to familiarize participants with CBAs, especially in light of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which sent a historic amount of federal dollars to cities. Here are some takeaways from the webinar: 

What is a community benefits agreement?

CBAs exist to ensure that investments in green transportation lead to high-quality, unionized jobs. CBAs are legally binding agreements between community groups and developers or manufacturers. They contain specific, measurable commitments to workers and local communities, creating pathways to sustainable employment. We work with various partners to craft these CBAs, including:

  • Environmental justice organizations
  • Workforce groups
  • Civil rights organizations
  • Faith-based partners
  • Labor unions

Public agencies and CBAs

Public agencies are increasingly rewarding companies that commit to job quality, training opportunities, and equitable hiring practices. This trend has opened doors for JMA to engage in meaningful dialogue about the benefits of community-labor-private partnerships, furthering the scope and impact of our CBAs.

The benefits for companies

The companies we partner with also benefit from CBAs. With the help of our coalition partners, they gain access to hiring and training support from local communities. Additionally, our CBAs are tailored to reflect the specific needs of workers and communities, ensuring a strong alignment of interests between all parties.

The CBA negotiation process

Negotiating a CBA involves a collaborative process with our coalition partners. While the coalition is large, we keep the negotiation meetings small, ensuring that everyone has clearly defined roles. Key aspects of the negotiation process include:

  • Pre-prepared proposals and counter-proposals
  • A prioritized list of CBA elements
  • Constant planning and debriefing with coalition partners

The implementation of CBAs

Once a CBA is signed, the work doesn’t stop. Implementing a CBA is just as important as negotiating it. Our CBAs lay out a comprehensive implementation structure that includes:

  • Shared decision-making
  • Defining responsibilities for all parties
  • Tracking and reporting progress
  • Ensuring accountability for the provisions of the agreement

Want to learn more? Watch the webinar!

By Melanie Prasad

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