Top questions concerning union organizing:

• Union members have entered my building and are talking to employees. What can I do?
  Unions have no right to coerce or intimidate your employees. Union representatives often tell workers while organizing that they will be forced to join a union. This is not true. Nor are union representatives permitted to tell workers that dues will be greatly increased if they do not join early in an organizing campaign. Force or coercion against workers by union representatives is also punishable by the NLRB.

• Union representatives are telling me that I must hire union members in order to get my project done properly and on time. Is this true?
  No. There is no law, state or federal, which says owners must hire union workers on private construction projects. Additionally, there is no evidence that using union workers will increase either productivity or the quality of the work.

• Unions often claim that hiring their workers will guarantee worker satisfaction and prevent project disruptions such as strikes. Is this true?
  No. There is no guarantee in construction that a project will run smoothly. Furthermore, there are many examples of high profile projects being disrupted despite using union labor such as the Trump Tower in Chicago in June 2006.

• Why are the unions targeting my project?
  When unions are aggressively approaching project owners and contractors it is usually a sign they are not acquiring enough work. Often times when a union hall is slow they will send members out to canvas the market or they will launch organizing campaigns, such as the recently announced MOVE campaign. During these campaigns it is important for contractors and owners to keep detailed records of union activity against their company and if the need arises contact a qualified labor attorney.

• I am being told that I can save money by hiring union workers and contractors. Is this true?
  No. Often unions will claim they can save owners money by completing projects on time and providing superior craftsmanship thus decreasing accidents and defects; however, this is untrue. Here are a couple reasons why:

  1. Union wages are notably higher than the current market wage and there is no correlation between the amount of pay and the completed project.

  2. Union wages are notably higher and will in the end cost you money.

• The unions have offered to help finance my project in return for their employment. Should I accept their offer?
  Whether or not a contractor should employ union workers in a business deal is up to the individual; however, there are a couple of facts you should keep in mind when being approached with this sort of deal.

  1. Compare the union wages to true market wages. Estimated market wages for the construction industry can be found on the bureau of labor and statistics website www.bls.gov a quick comparison will easily show you the markup when employing union workers.

  2. Union contractors often have complicated work rules and payroll procedures that can add cost and time to your project.

• I’ve been seeing union members picketing with signs displaying the names of construction businesses. Are these picketers employees of the company?
  No. In an effort to disrupt projects, unions will often picket with signs boldly displaying the contractor’s name; however, these are not employees of the contractor. This is a tactic used by unions to place pressure on non-union businesses. Look closely at the signs and you will be able to see the union’s identification.

• If a union member asks me for the names of contractors performing work on my project, do I have to give it to them?
  No. There is no law stating that owners or contractors on private construction projects must share this information.

• If a union member asks to tour my building, do I have to let them in?
  No.