Labor Relations

Negotiation of Union Agreements

CEA negotiates the collective bargaining agreements affecting the building contractor performing work in Northern California, including the Carpenters Master Agreement and the Laborers Master Builders Agreement. In addition, CEA negotiates the Cement Masons and Operating Engineers Agreements on behalf of its members signatory to such Agreements. CEA's collective bargaining success is due to the active participation of the principals of its member firms, guided by an experienced staff.

Professional Labor Relations Representation

CEA's professional staff uses a preventative approach in resolving labor disputes, and provides quality representation in grievance/arbitration proceedings. In addition, CEA provides its members with up to date labor related information, including wage and fringe benefit rate changes and other pertinent union issues.

Objective

The Construction Employers' Association (CEA) is comprised of 130+ premier union-affiliated contractors (primarily general contractors) who collectively perform over $30 billion annually in building construction work in Northern California. CEA’s membership roster is a veritable list of "Who's Who in the Northern California Building Construction Industry."

CEA’s general contractors build educational facilities (K-12 schools and university projects), commercial buildings, government buildings, hospital/healthcare facilities, energy and power projects, laboratory and technology projects, sports stadiums, water infrastructure projects, affordable and market-rate multi-family housing projects, parking structures, etc.

CEA represents its members in collective bargaining, labor relations and legislative/regulatory advocacy, and for the past 40 years, has been the only organization whose sole purpose is to protect and promote the interests of the unionized building construction industry in Northern California.

Our effectiveness as an organization is due in large part to the active participation of the owners and principals of member firms, guided by an experienced staff.
CEA negotiates the collective bargaining agreements affecting the building contractor performing work in Northern California, including the Carpenters Master Agreement and the Laborers Master Builders Agreement. In addition, CEA negotiates the Cement Masons and Operating Engineers Agreements on behalf of its members signatory to such Agreements.
CEA's professional staff uses a preventative approach in resolving labor disputes. Rarely do grievances proceed to arbitration. CEA provides members with up-to-date labor-related information.
CEA has assumed a leadership role in working with labor and other industry groups with respect to key California legislation and regulations affecting the unionized building construction industry.
CEA’s robust Safety Program provides valuable educational and networking opportunities for its members’ safety representatives and key field personnel. CEA’s popular safety forums and seminars are free of charge and well-attended. CEA’s Safety Committee provides advocacy on critical safety-related issues affecting the building industry. Each year, CEA recognizes deserving firms through its safety excellence awards program.
Each year, CEA releases this valuable tool to participating members to aid in the attraction and retention of talented management personnel. These confidential surveys collect data from member firms on salaries and benefits for positions ranging from administrative staff to estimators to superintendents to project managers and up to top executives.
CEA’s Annual General Membership Dinner in January, its Members’ Celebrations, safety forums, educational seminars, labor-management partnering conferences, annual golf tournament, and other Association events, provide CEA members with an excellent opportunity to network with fellow industry executives.
In addition to focusing on the direct needs of its members, CEA has been an industry leader in supporting and promoting quality construction management education. CEA has awarded annual grants totaling over $4 million over the past 27 years to the following deserving university construction management programs: University of California, Berkeley; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; California State University, Chico; California State University, East Bay; California State University, Fresno; California State University, Sacramento; and Stanford University.