VISTA, Calif. (AP) - An organization representing California construction unions has sued the city to pay union-level wages on public works projects.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Superior Court by the State Building and Construction Trades Council, could have broad implications for other cities like Vista, where voters approved a municipal charter in June.
Scott Kronland, an attorney for the group, described the lawsuit as a test case to determine whether state prevailing wage requirements apply to charter cities.
Of the 478 cities in California, 109 have charters, including the San Diego County cities of Vista, San Marcos and Del Mar.
Charter cities have traditionally been considered exempt from prevailing wage requirements on city-funded projects, according to Patrick Whitnell, general counsel for the League of California Cities.
The construction group argues that the prevailing wage law addresses statewide concerns, so charter cities should not be allowed to ignore it.
Prevailing wages are set by the California Department of Industrial Relations.
