Greed and selfishness

In a perfect world, there would be no need for labor unions. At present, all of us, employer and worker alike, are subject to having the human feelings of greed, selfishness and fear.

An important reason that one decides to be a contractor rather than a worker is for the opportunity to make more money. The contractor has a greater drive to get rich. Some small contractors however, may be in business only because they can’t make a decent living working for someone else nonunion.

Construction unions twenty to thirty years ago

During the sixties and the seventies, although it is sometimes difficult to admit, the pendulum had perhaps swung too far in the unions’ direction. We were too big for our britches. We had work rules that were too rigid and we probably made too much money. Perhaps the worst sin of all was that we didn’t take in new members except through the apprenticeship program.

By the eighties, the pendulum had swung too far the other way. Local 617 went from having practically all of the work to having about 85% (and by today’s standards, that is very good). The restrictive work rules and the ability to strike are gone from the contract, the wage isn’t really much higher than it was fifteen years ago, and we are organizing. We have learned a lot from our mistakes of the past, although all of us still haven’t learned all of the lessons thoroughly. It is a different union than it used to be.

It is also a smarter union than it used to be. We have several different methods for enhancing the union market- share. We work with our contractors, especially in helping to see that the work goes union.

Back in the sixties and seventies, we ourselves were guilty of the same greed that we accuse the employer of having. This shows that this is something that affects us all, both worker and contractor. The solution to this universal affliction is to keep the power balanced between labor and management. Unions are every bit as necessary as they have always been because in their absence, the advantage is always with the employer. Unions must only have their proper share of control, and we think that balance is in place now. We need to keep it that way for those who are members now, as we extend the union advantage to those who are not organized at the present time.