The Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction, a group that represents non-union construction companies and workers, has announced its opposition to the Chargers’ citizen’s ballot initiative to build a new stadium in Downtown and a convention center annex. The group opposes the plan because the Chargers announced a partnership with organized labor, the Building and Construction Trades Council, in a “project labor agreement” banning use of non-union workers on the $1.8B project.

A spokesperson for the Coalition said in a press conference that such pacts are becoming increasingly common on large projects with lengthy construction timelines, and contended these are “kickback” schemes that often run up project costs and unfairly deny non-union workers an opportunity to earn a living, noted a San Diego Union-Tribune report.

San Diego County’s Building and Construction Trades Council responded yesterday, saying project labor agreements ensure the best-trained and most-skilled craftsmen build major projects. A union spokesperson said such agreements don’t increase project costs, but rather boost chances projects are completed on time and support apprentice programs that help ensure a sustainable build-industry workforce. [SDUT]