Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO Backs Howard Terminal Ballpark for Oakland A's
OAKLAND – The Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO, voted to support the Oakland A’s efforts to build a new ballpark at Howard Terminal. The Council, composed of 135 unions representing 135,000 workers in healthcare, transportation, education, construction, manufacturing, and service, expressed strong support for the project given its potential to provide significant economic benefits for working families throughout the East Bay. The Labor Council will continue to advocate that the A’s sign Community Benefits Agreements to ensure the project opens job opportunities for Oakland residents, stems displacement and creates cleaner air.
“Oakland’s working people want to see job creation and community-strengthening projects happen right here at home,” said Alameda Labor Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Liz Ortega. “The Howard Terminal ballpark for the A’s is a win for working people, and our families. With this agreement, we’re standing on third base with no outs. But we’re not home yet. We will continue to work with the A's to reach a community benefits agreement to ensure we all cross-home plate together.”
According to the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, the privately financed project would create approximately 2,000 construction jobs and even more jobs would be generated by the ongoing operation of the ballpark. Additionally, the surrounding development will spur economic development and job growth in the hospitality, retail, restaurant, and office sectors in Oakland and throughout the East Bay.
The A’s have committed to union labor agreements for both construction and operations of the ballpark that provide living wage jobs. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Oakland,” Ortega said. “Building a ballpark at Howard Terminal will create sustainable development that benefits workers and their families.”
In addition to the A’s ballpark project at Howard Terminal, the Council is also officially endorsing the A’s redevelopment project at Oakland Coliseum, provided it also include community benefits.