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Community Workforce Agreements

What and Why? 

Community workforce agreements are agreements between project owners and labor or between contractors and labor that outline how each will improve the project outcomes for communities. We are incorporating community workforce agreements, known as CWAs, into our contracting and project delivery practices, particularly for large projects. 

CWAs are a critical tool for ensuring that major construction projects create opportunities for local people and disadvantaged workers. CWAs include language and terms about hiring workers, engaging firms from targeted populations, and other ways to help the community. We have a serious workforce challenge at a time when we have an increasing number of ODOT projects to deliver. CWAs are one tool to build a strong and diverse worker pipeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

​Community workforce agreements are agreements between project owners and labor or between contractors and labor that outline how each will improve the project outcomes for communities. CWAs are sometimes called community benefit agreements.​

​CWAs are a critical tool for ensuring that major construction projects create opportunities for local people and disadvantaged workers. CWAs include language and terms about hiring workers, engaging firms from targeted populations, and other ways to help the community. We have a serious workforce challenge at a time when we have an increasing number of ODOT projects to deliver. CWAs are one tool to build a strong and diverse worker pipeline.​

​CWAs establishes targets for increasing the number of women and minorities working in the industry. ODOT’s Community Benefit contracts outline requirements for diverse and local hiring, respectful workplace for all, and specific community needs. Any agreement must be approved by the Federal Highway Administration and the Oregon Department of Justice.​

​Our goals in developing and using CWAs are: 

  • Grow the transportation system construction workforce through enhanced access to training programs and career opportunities.
  • Support racial and gender equity within the construction workforce.
  • Provide contracting opportunities for certified firms.
  • Maximize the impact of ODOT’s investments for the benefit of communities. 

​ODOT’s CWAs will outline requirements for diverse and local hiring, respectful workplace for all, and specific community needs. Contractors, unions, and consultants will receive support, training, and resources from the Office of Equity & Civil Rights.​

​The Office of Equity & Civil Rights will provide updates and quarterly reports on pilot project progress and program implementation to all interested parties.​


Background

ODOT established an advisory group of interested people from the contracting community, labor, workforce, local partners, and community to advise on the elements ODOT should consider for its CWA. The committee met from October 2021 through mid-2022. The input received from ODOT’s advisory group informed the discussion the Oregon Transportation Commission had on this topic. The negotiating parties and signatories for our master CWA are labor and ODOT (owner). Any agreement must be approved by the Federal Highway Administration and the Oregon Department of Justice. 

Two women working

Contact Us

Office of Social Equity
socialequity@odot.oregon.gov

Events

We offer opportunities to learn more about CWAs and how they will be integrated into ODOT projects.

Meet the Trades Oct. 12

Learn about community workforce agreements and upcoming ODOT projects, and have the opportunity to network with your peers. Register by Oct. 9.