SAN FRANCISCO MOVES CLOSER TO FULFILLING COMMUNITY HIRING AGREEMENT ON SUNSET RESERVOIR

Recurrent Energy Commits To Hiring Additional Low-Income Residents By Month's End, But SF Labor Office To Rule Whether Community Members Can Actually Touch Solar Panels

May 11, 2010, SAN FRANCISCO, CA--Yesterday's hearing on hiring at San Francisco's Sunset Reservoir solar project found developer Recurrent Energy re-asserting its commitment to hire no less than 21 economically disadvantaged city residents, and Recurrent will do so by month's end according to a spokesperson. Environmental and social justice advocates, as well as men and women both working on and waiting to work on the project, attended and encouraged Recurrent and its contractor BASS Electric to continue their community hiring efforts, which stalled out at 8 after a labor dispute created a solar hiring freeze.

Members of the Laborers union currently working on the site came out to thank Recurrent, BASS, CityBuild, the SFPUC and community advocates for the opportunity to work on the project, but to also ask that more underrepresented community members be allowed to join them out on the Reservoir. The Laborers union is unique in that it is able to specifically target opportunities for disadvantaged residents, particuarly in neighborhoods historically polluted by dirty power plants, while other unions such as the Electricians do not provide for such specificity. Some Laborers expressed disappointment that after an initial experience in actually racking, mounting and installing solar panels, they were told to stop touching the panels because the Electricians union had filed a complaint against BASS Electric.

San Francisco's Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) has been asked to adjudicate whether Laborers can install solar panels or whether only Electricians can handle solar; this decision will impact green jobs in San Francisco for many years to come. At the hearing, OLSE Director Donna Levitt publicly expressed her preference for Electricians over Laborers, leaving many to wonder if an unbiased decision from the City is possible. Laborers Secretary-Treasurer David De La Torre stated Laborers' position clearly: "Laborers unload, they assemble, they install...we are going to fight the good fight, we're going to protect our jurisdiction."

"If there's anyone that 'owns' solar, it's the community," said Bayview activist Espanola Jackson, who installed solar panels on her home last year with the help of volunteer Laborers from the Southeast Jobs Coalition and Young Community Developers.

"We have high unemployment in the electricians union and high unemployment in low-income communities, particularly in neighborhoods that have suffered from decades of dirty power plants and are hungry to be part of the green movement," said Brightline Executive Director Joshua Arce. "We're looking for a way to work together in order to grow more work for everyone."

At yesterday's hearing, Brightline distributed a letter in support of community hiring at Sunset Reservoir that was signed by Sierra Club, Global Exchange, the Ella Baker Center, Greenlining Institute, Brightline Chinese for Affirmative Action, the Southeast Jobs Coalition, Young Community Developers, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, Anders & Anders, Arc Ecology, Visitacion Valley Community Development, Positive Directions, PODER, Greenaction, SF Community Power, Chinese Progressive Association, the Local Clean Energy Alliance, POWER, Asian Neighborhood Design, and Bay Localize.

rightline Defense Project is a non-profit civil rights advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and empowering communities. Brightline’s efforts have led to the prevention of a new power plant in Southeast San Francisco and increased employment opportunities for economically disadvantaged residents, particularly in the green jobs sector.
www.brightlinedefense.org