Building Trades News

Union membership rose by 311,000 members in 2007, driven by significant growth in the Building Trades. Building Trades craft unions grew by nearly 100,000 workers nationwide and accounted for nearly one-third of the growth in union membership, according to a new report issued by the Department of Labor. This was first overall increase in union membership in over a decade.

"This increase in membership and union market share is a direct result of the aggressive marketing, organizing and recruitment efforts undertaken by our affiliated unions," said Mark H. Ayers, President of the Building & Construction Trades Department, AFLCIO. "And this is just the beginning." The growth represents a gain of eight percent from 2006. "Unions affiliated with the building trades have invested heavily in organizing over the last several years and we are now seeing the results," said Bob Balgenorth, President, State Building & Construction Trades Council.

 Another factor that has contributed to growth in California has been the use of Project Labor Agreements. "What we see here in Los Angeles is expansion of the use of Project Labor Agreements and the increased cooperation between the Building Trades and community partners," said UCLA Labor Center Director Kent Wong. "Not only has this been successful in raising union density, but it has also provided career opportunities in the Building Trades for community members." Balgenorth said that Project Labor Agreements have been "particularly successful in increasing union density in the building trades in California."

He noted the successes in securing PLAs for power plant construction and maintenance, for the building of ethanol plants, and public schools. "I would expect this trend to continue for years to come," he said. The increase in union market share will help the craft unions maintain wages and benefit levels for their members, according to Building Trades officials. "We can’t continue to decline and expect to command the same wages. We do not operate in a vacuum," said Marvin Kropke, Business Manager for IBEW Local 11. The high quality and training offered by Building Trades Craft Union is also seen as a factor. The skilled craftsmanship and well-trained workforce is being increasingly sought by owners and developers.

The reputation for producing skilled workers that Building Trades unions have earned is starting to appeal to an increasing number of young Americans and recent military veterans who are looking to pursue careers in union construction in greater numbers. "We need to be the best; customers need to see a difference in quality. Otherwise, we will find ourselves competing only on price," said Kropke. The Building Trades unions are optimistic that a similar growth will occur for 2008. According to the Labor Department report, 12.1 percent of the nation’s workforce is a part of a union, a slight increase from 12 percent in 2006. This is a welcoming change from previous annual declines since membership data started being recorded in 1983, with 20.1 percent representing the workforce at that time. The increase of women membership was particularly noticeable.

More than 201,000 women joined unions in 2007, nearly twice the number the men. The result was a new high with women now accounting for 44 percent of all members. The Western states gained the most with 200,000 new members in California alone. Meanwhile, Nevada saw a 15,000 membership increase due to successful organizing efforts by casino and construction workers.

That growth can be seen locally. IBEW Local 11signed up 45 new contractors in 2007. "By signing up 45 new union contractors last year, we now have 66 more union shops doing business in Los Angeles than we did two years ago. These contractors are out bidding on projects in markets that have been traditionally non union for over 20 years. They are employing an ever growing membership and creating the solid foundation for our unions future," said Kevin Norton, Director of Organizing for IBEW Local 11. "Organizing is the lifeblood of local 11 as well as any other union that expects to be relevant in the construction industry," added Kropke.

The only offset to the overall increase would be the Midwest region, with Illinois and Michigan suffering significant decreases in members due to the continued decline in manufacturing jobs. Illinois suffered the most last year with a loss of 89,000 union members. Union members enjoy significant pay and benefits advantages over non-union workers.

The median weekly pay earnings for a union worker are $863, while non-union workers earned a weekly median salary of $663. "[These] numbers show working people are pushing to form and join unions in order to improve their lives, despite record levels of resistance from employers," said AFL-CIO president, John Sweeney, "They know that a union card is the single best ticket into the middle class, especially in today’s economy."