ISSUES RELATED TO LABOR ORGA
JAMES T. BEALL, JR.

City of San Jose
Councilmember

Actively opposed and voted against Weisscal (a non-union contractor) receiving
$35m Transit Mall contract. The contract was awarded on a 6-5 Council vote,

and Weisscal subsequently was convicted of bribing inspectors and doing faulty
work.

Initiated a change in the City of San Jose Public Works contract rules defining a
"responsible bidder," including enhanced quality standards and observance of
all safety and fair labor laws.
Voted to deny a low bidder on a City contract after investigation proved
violation of labor laws.

As Vice Chair of the League of California Cities Transportation and Public
Works Committee and National League of Cities Transportation Committee
voted against proposals to repeal and/or weaken Davis-Bacon prevailing wage
laws. Led debate at both committee meetings and succeeded in obtaining
endorsement by both committees opposing anti-Davis-Bacon proposals.
Supported and assisted labor organizations’ right to collective bargaining in
City’s garbage contracts. Lobbied for "transition plan" protecting workers’ jobs.
As a member of the County Transportation Commission supported bus drivers’
opposition to County Transit District "privatization policy," pointing out that meet
and confer rights had been denied.
Supported "Statement of Concern" by retail clerks for Gemco/Lucky workers
who were victims of company take-over attempts.
Advocated for Almaden Winery to remain in operation after take-over by
conglomerate.
Proposed that redevelopment staff assist in setting up meeting between labor
and potential Convention Center hotel developers.

1

Supported City policy on notice to workers regarding plant closures.
Lead fight against Fairmont Hotel plan to put street through the middle of Plaza
Park after developer stated his "distaste" for customers’ taxis driving in front of
United Food and Commercial Workers Office and the senior citizen’s complex.
Refused to attend events picketed or opposed by labor organizations and
refused to patronize commercial establishments on AFL-CIO’s "do not
patronize" list.
Utilize union printing for all office-related needs.

Utilize union vendors for political campaign data and printing needs.
As a member of the Board of Directors proposed procedures to improve the
involvement of labor organizations in City Federated Retirement System.
Active involvement on Retirement Board and leader on Council involving
employee retirement and City issues.
Voted for policy to eliminate City retirement fund investments involving South
Africa.

Voted to increase health and dental benefits for City Retirement System
members.

Actively supported and voted for "comparable worth" adjustments for femaledominated classes of employees.
Co-chair of City’s Child Care Task Force. Supported policies to establish child
care for City employees. Stated that this should not be a bargaining issue
opposed by City Management.

A leader on City Council on budget issues supporting policies avoiding layoffs
or reducing direct public services. Made majority of the budget adjustment
proposals during "crisis" years (1982, 1987) to save jobs, prevent layoffs, and
retain services.

One of two Councilmembers to support Proposition 65 toxics initiative in
November of 1986. Supported strong enforcement efforts of water quality
regulations.

2

During many instances opposed, even if majority of Council supported, court
room tactics, injunctions, etc., as a negotiation strategy. Have stressed
mediation or other similar strategies.

Initiated proposal, over Mayor McEnery’s opposition, to create a Housing
Department dedicated to construction and rehabilitation of low-income housing.
Initiated efforts to strengthen prevailing wage policy.
Voted to increase benefits to survivors of deceased retired employees.
Succeeded in having City Attorney over-rule City’s practice of charging for
search of building plans and maps for unions and individuals.
Publicly supported "Justice for Janitors" effort, including having name listed in
public campaigns, and writing letters to CEO’s regarding hiring of non-union
labor.

Assisted Central Labor Council In encouraging hotel developers to allow union
shops.

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3

ISSUES RELATED TO LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

JAMES T. BEALL, JR.

City of San Jose
CounciImember

*

Actively opposed and voted against Weisscal (a non-union
contractor) receiving $35m Transit Mall contract.
The
contract

was

awarded

on

a

6-5

Council

vote

and

Weisscal

subsequently was convicted of bribing inspectors and doing
faulty work.
*

Initiated a change in the City of San Jose Public Works
contract rules defining a "responsible bidder", including
enhanced quality standards and observance of all safety
and fair labor laws.

*

Voted to deny a low bidder on a City contract
investigation proved violation of labor laws.

*

As
Vice
Chair
of
the
League
of
California
Cities
Transportation and Public Works Committee and National
League of Cities Transportation Committee, voted against
proposals to repeal and/or weaken Davis-Bacon prevailing
wage laws.
Led debate at both committee meetings and
succeeded in obtaining endorsement by both committees
opposing anti-David-Bacon proposals.

*

Supported and assisted labor organizations' right to
collective
bargaining
in
City's
garbage
contracts.
Lobbied for "transition plan" protecting workers' jobs.

*

As a member of the County Transportation Commission
supported
bus drivers' opposition to
County Transit
District "privatization policy", pointing out that meet
and confer rights had been denied.

*

Supported "Statement of Concern" by retail clerks for
Gemco/Lucky workers who were victims of company take-over

after

attempts.
*

Advocated for Almaden Winery to remain in operation after
take-over by conglomerate.

*

Proposed that redevelopment staff assist in setting up
meeting between labor and potential Convention Center
Hotel developers.

Supported City policy on notice to workers regarding plant
closures.

*

Lead fight against Fairmont Hotel plan to put street
through the middle of Plaza Park after developer stated
his "distaste" for customers' taxis driving in front of
United

Food

and

Commercial

Workers

Office

and

the

senior

citizen's complex.
*

Refused

to

attend

events

picketed

or

opposed

by

labor

organizations
and
refused
to
patronize
commercial
establishments on AFL-CIO's "do not patronize" list.
*

Utilize union printing for all office-related needs.

*

Utilize union vendors
printing needs.

*

for

political

campaign

data

and

As a member of the Board of Directors, proposed procedures

to improve the involvement of labor organization in City
Federated Retirement System.
*

Active

involvement

on

Retirement

Board

and

leader

on

Council involving employee retirement and City issues.
*

Voted for policy to eliminate
investment involving South Africa.

*

Actively

supported

and

voted

City

for

retirement

"comparable

fund
worth

II

adjustments for female-dominated classes of employeed.
*

Co-chair

of

City's

policies

to

establish

Child

Care

child

Task

care

Force.

for

City

Supported

employees.

Stated that this should not be a bargaining issue opposed
by City Management.
*

A

leader

policies
services.

City

Council

avoiding

on

layoffs

or

reducing

majority

of

the

Made

on

budget

issues

supporting

direct

budget

public

adjustment

proposals during "crisis" years (1982, 1987) to save jobs,
prevent layoffs, and retain services.
*

One of two Councilmembers to support Proposition 65 toxics
initiative

in

November

of

1986.

Supported

strong

enforcement efforts of water quality regulations.
*

During many instances opposed, even if majority of Council
supported, court room
negotiation strategy.

tactics, injunctions, etc., as a
Has stressed mediation or other

similar strategies.
*

Initiated proposal, over Mayor McEnery's opposition, to
create a Housing Department dedicated to construction and
rehabilitation of low-income housing.

*

Initiated efforts to strengthen prevailing wage policy.

*

Voted

to

increase

benefits

to

survivors

of

deceased

retired employees.
*

Succeeded
in
having
City
Attorney
over-rule
City's
practice of charging for search of building plans and maps
for unions and individuals.

*

Publicly
supported
"Justice
for
Janitors"
effort,
including having name listed in public campaigns and
writing letters to CEO's regarding hiring of non-union
labor.

*

Assisted
Central
Labor
Council
developers to allow union shops.

*

Ensured that new City garbage contractors (Western Waste
and GreenTeam) gave preference to union employees of
former garbage contractor (Waste Management).

*

Lobbied

for

prevailing

City-awarded contracts.

Doc:A:Laboriss

wage

in

encouraging

reguirements

in

hotel

all