8 of 10 construction workers shut out of Gov't work

[CountryBoy]

Barack Obama Sneaks Through “Union Only” Order Shutting 8 in 10 Construction Workers Out of Federal Projects
Posted by Erick Erickson
Tuesday, September 1st at 7:00AM EDT

There has not been a lot of coverage of this. It happened back in July and is only now winding its way through the federal system.

Barack Obama and his administration are about to significantly drive up the costs of federal building construction. This is an astonishing reach. The Office of Management and Budget has directed that any federal construction over $25 million benefit unions.

The order would make all federal construction projects 10-20% more expensive by requiring all contractors to either use union workers or apply inefficient union apprenticeship and work rules to their employees. Contractors would also be required to make contributions to union pension funds and other union programs that non-union workers will never benefit from.

This will hugely drive up the cost of construction of federal buildings and line the pockets of unions without even having union workers involved in the projects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that only 15.6% of private construction workers in America belong to unions. In other words, 8 out of 10 construction workers in America will be legally denied the right to work on federal building projects.

This is appalling.

Great news in the midst of a recession, right?

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/09/01/barack-obama-sneaks-through-union-only-order-shutting-8-in-10-construction-workers-out-of-federal-projects/

This crap coming out is so sickening, but hey ya get what you vote for. :(

CB

[Birchtree]

Surely the antics of this administration are enough to make a grown woman puke. Their next missive will be to decriminalize necrophilia - there must be some PAC money there.

[Frixxxx]

Surely the antics of this administration are enough to make a grown woman puke. Their next missive will be to decriminalize necrophilia - there must be some PAC money there.
It is decriminalized - It's called an Estate Tax - Screwing ya after ya dead!

[Silverbird]

Using construction workers that aren't in a union or aren't seperated as apprentices, journeymen and masters? Are you joking?
Unfortunately we don't have vocational training and certification programs as alternates to college degrees in this country as formal degrees. It's still the old union/guild model.
How would you know otherwise whether the foreman knows how to hang a door straight? With construction, you need journeymen and a master in charge who know what they are doing, not just people in hard hats that can lug around 2x4s. That is, if you don't want some nasty surprises later.

[nnuut]

Pay Back for the Union's support during the election! It's everywhere, It's everywhere!!!:nuts:

[CountryBoy]

Using construction workers that aren't in a union or haven't been through an apprentice program? Are you joking? How would you know otherwise if they aren't illegal and know how to hang a door straight?

Huh? Have you ever worked construction? :confused: A union card makes you an expert or qualified? :laugh:

CB

[nnuut]

Huh? Have you ever worked construction? :confused: A union card makes you an expert or qualified? :laugh:

CB
Usually the Master Craftsmen get the jobs before Apprentices. The Apprentices have to work under the direct supervison of a Master Craftsman.:cool:

[CountryBoy]

Usually the Master Craftsmen get the jobs before Apprentices. The Apprentices have to work under the direct supervison of a Master Craftsman.:cool:

Sure, after over 7 years of construction, I did pick that up. ;) But what the heck does that have to do with the title of this thread? I've see shotty gov't union label work for the past almost 25 years.

Lets try and stay on point.

CB

[nnuut]

Sure, after over 7 years of construction, I did pick that up. ;) But what the heck does that have to do with the title of this thread? I've see shotty gov't union label work for the past almost 25 years.

Lets try and stay on point.

CB
I agree about the quality of work. Just how am I off subject? Just commenting on what I thought to be relevant to the subject of "8 of 10 construction workers shut out of Gov't work" Sorry if I did get off subject, if so it won't happen again.:cool:

[nnuut]

I agree about the quality of work. Just how am I off subject? Just commenting on what I thought to be relevant to the subject of "8 of 10 construction workers shut out of Gov't work" Sorry if I did get off subject, if so it won't happen again.:cool:
Sorry I ment to say journeymen not Master!!:o

[Silverbird]

Doesn't say you have to be in a Union, but if you aren't you have to apply the apprenticeship rules. Ok....how else do you seperate the apprentices from the journeymen and the masters if you don't use the existing (Union) apprenticeship rules? Are there other standards out there that are accepted to the level that the U.S. Government can justify using them and they are quantifiable so you can make sure you have the right number of qualified construction workers of each level on the job? One of the jobs is the building that I'm in, and they are doing the ceilings (which are actually starting to bow from all the old lan and telephone wiring above our heads). Last thing I want is a cave-in in my office.

[CountryBoy]

I agree about the quality of work. Just how am I off subject? Just commenting on what I thought to be relevant to the subject of "8 of 10 construction workers shut out of Gov't work" Sorry if I did get off subject, if so it won't happen again.:cool:

Sorry nnuut,

I just didn't see what the master and app. had to do with the 8 of 10. My fault. I was commenting more from a policy standpoint which I think is bad policy, especially given the unemployment environment.

CB

[CountryBoy]

Doesn't say you have to be in a Union, but if you aren't you have to apply the apprenticeship rules. Ok....how else do you seperate the apprentices from the journeymen and the masters if you don't use the existing (Union) apprenticeship rules? Are there other standards out there that are accepted to the level that the U.S. Government can justify using them and they are quantifiable so you can make sure you have the right number of qualified construction workers of each level on the job? One of the jobs is the building that I'm in, and they are doing the ceilings (which are actually starting to bow from all the old lan and telephone wiring above our heads). Last thing I want is a cave-in in my office.

Understand, I was coming from the policy POV and again, I've seen more than my share of crappy Gov't work, regardless of their training or so called qualifications. I guess coming from private industry construction, just gives me a little different POV than being brought up in the Gov't working environment.

I just have a problem with blacklisting someone, because he doesn't carry the union card, that makes all an expert. ;)

Sorry as hell for the confusion or my misconception of the instant knowledge that cards gives one. :blink:

Adios

CB

[Silverbird]

If the unions are following their own apprenticeship rules, then a card won't instantly make you anything except an apprentice. I'd prefer a certification program that is seperate from organized labor. But if the union one is the only one for construction, it at the least seperates experienced from just walked on the site. Without some sort of separation of master, journeyman and apprentice, it would be the equivalent of the U.S. government picking the first person who knocked on the door who wants the job, which is a very risky proposition.

[CountryBoy]

If the unions are following their own apprenticeship rules, then a card won't instantly make you anything except an apprentice. I'd prefer a certification program that is seperate from organized labor. But if the union one is the only one for construction, it at the least seperates experienced from just walked on the site. Without some sort of separation of master, journeyman and apprentice, it would be the equivalent of the U.S. government picking the first person who knocked on the door who wants the job, which is a very risky proposition.

Whatever, you've obviously had more construction experience than me. I'm home and I try my best to swear off any fruithless debates like this. My last experience with government union workers was with the installation of new plumbing in all the bathrooms in our building, which took over twice as long as it should, because the first Union contractors, had the plumbing so screwed that it had to be ripped out and replumbed, by union workers ;), though we had to laugh because most of the laborers were definately south of the border, just based on their command of the English language, but they worked hard and did better work than the other Union company. I bet their card were legit, because unions always are above board and play by the rules. ;)

You've obviously had great experiences with Union work at all your construction jobs, while my experience has been about 50/50 and with work experience beating the union card everytime.

So ends this circular discussion. I see a wrong in the discrimination of workers because they don't have a union card and you don't. My review of contracts was based on the reputation of the company, past work and resumes, when reviewing construction bids not the almighty Union card or who the company may have bribed. ;) And we know that never happens in the Gov't.

So further debate is fruthless, because of our beliefs and past construction experience obviously vary greatly. Luckily my experience in the construction industry allowed me the freedom the select the most qualified contractor based on the quality of the above mentioned qualifications. and I'm not so naive, to not realize the gov't runs on a different fuel, which has always stuck in my craw when trying to get work done not to mention the obvious ineqalities.

And so life continues and I'm going to take a nice quiet stroll around the farm for this falls path clearing and the removal of snags, widowmakers and of course poison ivy, October is the best time for this if'n you can catch a nice cool sunny weekend and of course before the leaves drop,. :D

CB