As reported earlier this month by Carolinas AGC (CAGC), union activity targeting the construction industry is on the increase in the Carolinas.
On Monday, June 26, a group of union organizers-- led by The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), and the International Brotherhood of International Workers (IBEW)-- held a press conference on the steps of the Government Center in Charlotte and attended a meeting of the Charlotte City Council. The group proposed that construction workers in the Carolinas, particularly Charlotte, are the victims of wage theft, worker misclassification, lack benefits and are working under unsafe conditions. The group called on City Council to establish a task force to review working conditions in the construction industry, implement a policy to rate contractors and make them disclose their employment practices.
The group based their assumptions on a recently published union sponsored report, “Building a Better South,” which paints a grim picture of working conditions in the construction industry throughout the South. “It appears the report is the basis for ramped-up union activity from the Carolinas through Texas,” said Allen Gray, CAGC Utility Division/Government Relations Director. “We are encouraging all members to review their employee programs to ensure they are protected against union organizing tactics and prepared when unions approach your employees, jobsites and offices.”
CAGC will host a webinar, featuring nationally recognized labor attorney Mark Stubley, in July to continue to help our members prepare for union-organizing tactics. We also provide CAGC members with an array of resources to help keep their companies open shop and avoid labor related legal claims. These resources include our
Open Shop/Pro Employee webpage,
Union Free Help Desk,
Build Your Career program and access to the
CAGC Human Resources Committee’s unmatched expertise on the issue.
“The Carolinas construction industry is dedicated to our workers, their safety and well-being,” said Tamera Edwards, MB Haynes Corporation, Chair of the CAGC HR Committee. “CAGC members go to great lengths to ensure our workers are well taken care of.”
For nearly 100 years, CAGC has been active in successfully keeping the Carolinas construction industry open shop. We have the resources,
training programs and staff to help members maintain a highly skilled workforce, implement an effective open shop program and cultivate a pro-employee atmosphere.
For more information contact our Open Shop help desk at
UnionFree@CarolinasAGC.org, or Allen Gray, 704-372-1450, ext. 5231.