On January 8th, the Jackson County Legislature passed one of the most comprehensive and pro-worker pieces of legislation this region has seen in years on an astounding 9 to 0 vote, Ordinance No. 5825. The legislation is better known as a “responsible bidder ordinance,” a piece of pro-worker, pro-tax payer, and pro-union legislation that unions have been working to pass in every municipality across the country.
The ordinance lays out additional standards on what qualifications and characteristics a contractor must have in order to qualify to bid on a project that is put out to bid. These standards include a one-to-one Journeyman-to-Apprentice ratio, employer-provided healthcare benefits for workers, a real apprenticeship program, prevailing wage for the work performed, additional safety requirements, drug testing, and additional record keeping requirements.
These requirements will apply to any project put out for bid by Jackson County over $75,000 in scope, meaning almost every piece of work that is put out for bid moving forward will require a “responsible bidder.”
The thought behind responsible bidder language is that just because someone says they can do the project for cheap, that doesn’t mean they can actually do it right or are treating their workers at a level that we collectively deem to be up to area standards.
“This ordinance has been a year in the making. I’m extremely proud to see the responsible bidder policy pass by a 9-0 vote. Through union solidarity, we were able to pass the strongest pro-worker legislation for the construction trades in Jackson County History,” said Zack Dunn, Director Of Government Affairs at Missouri-Kansas Laborers District Council.
“Jackson County passing Responsible Bidder Language was the correct move, not just for unionized labor in the construction industry but for taxpayers in the county. We are appreciative of the Legislature voting to adopt this common sense measure,” said Ralph Oropeza, Business Manager of the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council.
“This legislation creates a level playing field in the bidding process of Jackson County. This is the most aggressive policy in the region, prioritizing working folks by further protecting their wages on County projects. The only pieces left to fix is to restore our Compliance office to its full staffing before the White budget cuts and add the three additional compliance roles proposed in the 2023 budget,” said Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca.
“As Chairman of the Legislature, I was proud to work with union leaders and Legislator Abarca to ensure Responsible Bidder language was passed. This was a promise made and promise kept despite opposition from the administration. This legislation makes Jackson County safer for residents and protects workers,” said Jackson County Legislator DaRon McGee, who was previously Chairman of the Legislature.
“The Responsible Bidder Ordinance finally is law! Jackson county has the most progressive pro worker law to be passed in our state! This has been a dedicated effort to get this done for well over a year. I’m proud to have been a co-sponsor on the ordinance. This legislature unanimously stood strong with labor on this vote! This is just the beginning of transformative pro-labor and pro-worker legislation that we will accomplish at Jackson County,” said Jackson County Legislator Jalen Anderson.
This legislation is the perfect example of why union members need to get out and vote for pro-union politicians and ignore party affiliation. This legislation is going to provide significant job hours to union members for years to come, only because we
Tristin Amezcua-Hogan is the Editor of The Labor Beacon and a member of LIUNA Local 264. Tristin also serves as the Director of Communications for the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO and the Chair of the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance.
Tristin grew up as the son of a UA Local 669 member in Tecumseh, KS and the great-nephew of George C. Amis, longtime leader of the United Rubberworkers (now USW Local 307) in Kansas. Growing up in rural Kansas as the child of teen parents, Tristin quickly came to appreciate the life-changing benefit of a union job.
Tristin and his partner, Rebeca Amezcua-Hogan, are residents of the Westside, Kansas City, MO's historic Mexican neighborhood. They are proud members of Kansas City's New Reform Temple.
