A big year for the Building Trades in Sacramento

By Kevin Ferreira
Executive Director, Sacramento-Sierra’s BCTC

As we move into a new year, it feels like everyone is busy. And for the Building Trades in Sacramento, that’s a very good thing.

All around our region, you can see change happening. New buildings are rising. Campuses are getting upgraded. The airport is expanding. Schools are improving. Roads, energy companies and hospitals are growing to keep up with our community. Sacramento is expanding, and union workers are right in the middle of it.

One thing we are seeing more of is big construction companies from outside the area coming in to bid on projects in Sacramento. That can make things harder for local workers if those companies don’t hire union labor or don’t pay fair wages. That’s why Project Labor Agreements, or PLAs, are so important. They ensure not only jobs but standards, demanding that our talented union workforce be at the center of building our communities.

But PLAs don’t just ensure work. These deals protect good wages, ensure benefits and demand safe working conditions. They also help support local communities and make sure we bring new people into our Trades with apprenticeships and good-paying jobs. When we secure a PLA, we are securing jobs for our members and stability for our families and our futures.

In 2025, a lot of our members were hard at work on projects that were protected by PLAs. One major project was the UC Davis Central Utility Plant, which is a big part of keeping the campus running and energy efficient. Our members also worked on the UC Davis Hospital Tower, helping expand a facility that saves lives and trains future medical professionals. This is work we will continue in the new year.

Another huge project happening right now is the Sacramento International Airport (SMF) expansion. This job is in full swing and will continue with new phases starting soon. Every traveler that comes through that airport is benefiting from the hands, skills and dedication of union workers in our region.

Looking ahead to 2026, we already know even more work is coming—and that’s exciting. One big upcoming project is the Air Products Hydrogen Plant, which will support cleaner energy and new technology. This kind of work puts Sacramento on the map for modern, forward-thinking industries while providing solid careers for our members.

We’re also seeing ongoing and system-wide work with both the Sacramento City School District and the Elk Grove Unified School District. That means schools will continue to be repaired, modernized and expanded so students can learn in safer, better buildings. And again, it’s union workers making that possible.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because working people stand together, because our unions organize and because the Sacramento-Sierra’s Building and Construction Trades Council fights every day to ensure our members are taken care of. Every project means food on the table, health care for families and a future for the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

As we start this new year, we want to say thank you to every member who shows up every day, rain or shine, to build this region. You are the backbone of Sacramento. You turn empty land into schools, hospitals, airports and power plants. You make the city stronger.

So here’s to a new year full of opportunity, growth and solidarity. Let’s keep building Sacramento—together.