LA Labor Movement Secures Huge Win, Brings LA Convention Center Expansion Back To Life
The LA Fed spearheaded a coalition of affiliates to revive the LA Convention Center expansion and modernization project, which, upon completion, will bring thousands of good-paying union jobs in construction, hospitality, and trade shows, while delivering much-needed foot traffic and revenue to downtown LA. The coalition, which included IUPAT District 36, IATSE West Coast Office, IATSE Local 33, IBEW 11, Teamsters Joint Council 42, Teamsters Local 986, and the LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council, secured a 14-1 vote by the LA City Council to keep the project alive and on track to be finalized by late summer.
LA’s Convention Center currently ranks #21 in the nation, putting it on par with Fresno and Kansas City. An expanded convention center is essential to the city’s long-term economic recovery and global competitiveness, and will put LA back on top where it belongs.
“This isn’t just a construction project, it’s an economic catalyst that our city needs,” said Yvonne Wheeler, President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. “It means real investment in the workers of Los Angeles, real growth for our local economy, and real tax dollars for city services that our communities rely on. This is an investment in now, an investment in the future, and an investment in L.A.”
For context: according to an Oxford Economics study, in the first five years after completion, the expansion is projected to generate $1.8 billion in additional business sales, attract 3.6 million more visitors, and contribute an additional $103 million in general fund contributions to support public safety, infrastructure, and neighborhood services.
Several iterations of the Los Angeles City Council have attempted to move this forward for the past decade, but to no avail. The project was all but dead, but the unified efforts of the Labor Movement brought it back to life, reconfirmed the City’s investment in revitalizing Downtown LA, and will ensure that good, union jobs lead the revitalization efforts in tourism and hospitality, construction, and union trade shows.
A special thanks to the following organizations for making this possible:
- LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council
- IUPAT District 36 (International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District 36)
- IATSE Local 33
- IATSE West Coast Office
- IBEW Local 11
- Teamsters Joint Council 42
- Teamsters Local 986
Stay tuned for a final decision that will be confirmed by August 2025.