540
Building Trade Unions: Conclusions
546
CONCLUSIONS
1. Despite the variations in local attitudes and the lack of
agreement in the courts toward unions' right to control the
degree of prefabrication on construction projects, the total
picture seems to be encouraging. National union policies
indicate that the leadership understands that prefabrication will
almost inevitably increase, and that unions must find ways to
work within this trend. It is clear to these national officials and
many union members that they can at best only temporarily hold
back industrialization by policies of obstruction.
2. At present, however, a great deal of power rests with the local
unions, who are primarily concerned with their own job security
rather than national trends. This is likely to be a continuing,
though diminishing problem, and one, which may crop up at any
place or time. Thus, while the trend is favorable, it should not
be taken for granted that it applies in any specific case.
3. It seems likely that building trade unions will attempt to extend
their jurisdiction into factories making prefabricated
components. Union labels will identify work done in factories by
union employees, making it acceptable to job site craftsmen.
4. Because of year-round employment and controlled working
conditions, factory wages for workers will run about 80% of that
of on-site construction wages, except where agreements require
the same benefits for craftsmen either on or off the site. Factory
workers will generally be less skilled, so unless other production
efficiencies are inherent in the factory fabrication, lower wage
rates will not in themselves significantly reduce costs.
5. Bargaining will increasingly be done at a larger scale, with large
manufactures instead of small contractors, and national union
groups instead of local entities.
6. Establishment of intertrade work rules for labor, so that one
tradesman can overlap into the area of another, appears to be
acceptable for factory fabrication labor agreements.
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