There’s already been quite an uproar from the construction industry about a proposal to enforce a “community workforce agreement” (CWA) on city construction contracts for $250,000 or more, a pact that would exclude non-unionized contractors from bidding.

Expect more noise from those who say, with reason, that this will inflate costs when the City Council takes up Bill 37 again on Wednesday.

In the background, attorneys with the city’s Department of Corporation Counsel also are giving the measure a serious look to determine whether state procurement laws will allow this.

Council Budget Chairman Joey Manahan introduced the bill by request of the Hawaii Construction Alliance and the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, construction union groups, but now says it will be revised.

That’s good: There may be several other examples from other cities to serve as models.

CWAs have become something of a trend — a controversial one. Industry groups such as Associated Builders and Contractors contend that CWAs (also known as project labor agreements) are costly and anticompetitive. That’s echoed by the local affiliate, which contends it would exclude 4,500 contractors.

The rationale for them is that better-trained labor will promote safer workplaces and a quality product. Other cities have forged these deals, but not all are exclusive to union labor (the Community Redevelopment Agency in L.A. is one that’s not so restrictive) … something to consider.