In a bid to better serve local workers and ensure responsible use of public funds, Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) and Councilwoman Teri Castillo (D5) have taken the first step to establish a “San Antonio Trades Advisory Board.”
The proposed board would “ensure that public money is spent responsibly while encouraging local hiring and worker protections,” the two council members said in a press release. The council consideration request was filed April 1 and will next head to the council’s governance committee.
McKee-Rodriguez and Castillo said the board would mirror similar initiatives in Texas, such as Harris County’s Essential Workers Board, which was created in 2021.
“The creation of the Trades Advisory Board will serve San Antonio in a more expansive and fair way by inviting workers to lead the conversations and decisions that most affect them,” said McKee-Rodriguez.
The board would be made up of representatives “dedicated to worker interests, workforce development, and labor protections. It will include union representatives,” and would include at least one rank-and-file worker to provide an on-the-ground perspective, according to the request.
It would also include a liaison from the Mayor’s Office and City Council, along with representatives from labor-friendly nonprofits, and legal experts focused on wage theft prevention, worker misclassification and labor law compliance.
The request suggests that the board be set up as a pilot program for one year. During this period, the board would focus specifically on city-funded projects in areas like construction, telecommunications, and infrastructure. The goal would be to ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely, while also prioritizing hiring local workers and enforcing strong labor standards, Castillo said.
“The vision for this board is to ensure that workers have a seat at the table, lifting their voice when it comes to enforcing labor standards, workforce development and training, and coordinating these efforts within publicly funded city contracts,” Castillo said. “As we envision the future of San Antonio, this board will be a vital asset for the workers who build this City.”
Supporting signatures were provided by Council members Sukh Kaur (D1), Adriana Rocha Garcia (D4) and Melissa Cabello Havrda (D6).
