L.A. County WDACS, Proterra, United Steelworkers Local 675, community groups announce electric bus manufacturing and workforce partnerships

The Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS), Proterra, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 675, Jobs to Move America and Citrus College marked Manufacturing Day with the announcement of investments into the development of a high-quality, highly skilled, electric bus manufacturing workforce.

“Electric vehicle technology is an opportunity to strengthen American manufacturing and create good paying, skilled jobs for Californians,” said Jack Allen, Proterra CEO. “Proterra is proud to partner with Los Angeles County and Citrus College to invest in vital workforce development and training. We are excited to support the creation of more job opportunities in electric vehicle technology manufacturing through this innovative program and partnerships.” 

The investments include a first-of-its-kind workforce training program in advanced electric bus manufacturing, and Proterra and USW Local 675’s first Collective Bargaining Agreement, ensuring worker voice and representation remain central to the long-term health and success of the company, says Proterra.

“These agreements represent the future of the L.A. County workforce,” said Otto Solórzano, acting director of L.A. County WDACS. “We have brought all partners to the table – public, private, labor, education – to create good-paying careers for traditionally underrepresented workers. In line with [California] Gov. [Gavin Newsom's] actions and the direction of the Board of Supervisors, L.A. County is building the technology and the workforce needed for a sustainable future.” 

The Electric Bus Manufacturing Technology training program, which welcomes its first cohort of students on Oct. 9, was developed to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and job quality in the green manufacturing sector by targeting historically underrepresented groups with barriers to employment. The customized, nine-week training program taught by Citrus College was designed in partnership with production and assembly management at Proterra, and will help fill union jobs manufacturing battery-electric buses at Proterra’s City of Industry facility. 

“The USW is proud of the work that we did to come to this agreement with Proterra,” said Maria Somma, the Organizing director for USW International Union. “This new contract increases wages and benefits and provides workers a voice on the job. We are excited to be a part of manufacturing clean energy technology while working together with Proterra to create a safe, healthy and prosperous future.” 

“Citrus College is excited to be a part of this new training program,” said Michael Wangler, dean of Career, Technical and Continuing Education at Citrus College. “Our automotive and diesel faculty were eager to help build this customized curriculum that will benefit the community, the environment and the local economy.” 

Proterra and USW Local 675 also announced the signing of their first collective bargaining agreement. The collective bargaining agreement sets clear requirements on how workers’ voices will inform the development of training programs, working conditions, safety and other important factors affecting working conditions. In 2019, Proterra signed Los Angeles County’s Fair Chance Pledge to incorporate Fair Chance hiring practices into the company’s recruitment process and promote the full participation of justice-involved individuals in the economy. 

“Making workers and communities true partners in the transition to zero-emission transit is a way to ensure that the growing clean economy does not leave behind working families from earning high, family-sustaining wages in a safe work environment with high labor standards,” said Héctor Martin Huezo, senior workforce equity coordinator at Jobs to Move America. “As more cities and states electrify bus fleets and take action to combat climate change, our coalition is working tirelessly to make sure that every single public dollar we invest in state-of-the-art electric buses creates good jobs, real benefits and training opportunities, like this one with WDACS, for communities who need access to good jobs and training.” 

This partnership will further help Los Angeles County reach the goals outlined in its Sustainability Plan, as well as the recent Board of Supervisors’ motion for High Road Training Partnerships between industry, labor, community and local colleges.