A Fresno Bee editorial, ("High-speed rail rolls out the pork barrel for unions," March 7, 2013) takes an unfair swipe at the California High-Speed Rail Authority's goal of creating and maximizing job opportunities for Central Valley residents and ignores long-standing state and national policies encouraging employers to help economically disadvantaged people, including returning veterans, re-enter the job market.

The authority board has adopted a policy that "all reasonable steps should be taken, within the constraints of state and federal laws, to ensure that California communities, small businesses and residents benefit as fully as possible during the construction of the high speed rail project." Since unemployment in the Central Valley is the highest in California, and well above the national average, it is vital that there is an emphasis on creating jobs there. The board has also adopted an aggressive goal of 30% small business participation, which will provide opportunities for small, minority and disabled veteran-owned firms throughout California.

The authority's development of a Community Benefits Agreement is one step in that process, and it is hardly breaking new ground. Virtually identical agreements have been used successfully throughout California on major infrastructure programs. Under the agreement, construction contractors will be required to adhere to the National Targeted Hiring Initiative, which says 30% of the work will go to National Targeted Workers and 10% of the work will be done by disadvantaged workers.

Who are we talking about? They are people who live in an economically disadvantaged area or face any of the following barriers to employment -- being homeless, a custodial single parent, receiving public assistance, lacking a GED or high school diploma, having a criminal record or other involvement with the criminal justice system, chronically unemployed, emancipated from the foster care system, being a veteran, or an apprentice with less than 15% of the required graduating apprenticeship hours in a program.

These definitions come from almost 20-year old state and federal programs that provide incentives, through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, for employers to help such people get off of public assistance and back into the job market. According to the U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, over $1 billion in credits are earned each year, underscoring the widespread implementation of this policy.

The five joint-venture teams bidding on construction of the first leg of high-speed rail have agreements with labor unions. What is important to bring to public attention is that in California about 95% of the construction apprentices in state-approved programs are indentured in apprenticeship programs jointly sponsored by labor unions and signatory contractors. All people hired to work on the program, including disadvantaged workers, will have all the necessary training and qualifications to perform their jobs. The CBA also creates an opening for non-union businesses and workers to fully participate in building the high-speed rail system and expressly prohibits discrimination based on union membership.

The Bee also failed to mention that the agreement contains a "No Strike Clause." This protects the taxpayers to ensure that the project will not be subject to costly work stoppages that could jeopardize high-speed rail.

As part of a historic investment in improved rail service throughout California, high-speed rail will pay dividends in the long run and in the near term. Thousands of people will get jobs on the project. Working people help strengthen the economy and communities. Many workers will learn new skills that serve them for a lifetime. It means moms, dads, neighbors, union and non-union workers, small-business owners and their employees will be able to support themselves and their families and build a high-speed rail project that will link up our state.

This is an investment in our future that we can all be proud of.