I was involved in a large construction project in the American Mid-West a few years ago, where we tried to have only non-union labor. We couldn’t get non-union labor in all trades, and where we did have to engage union labor, the differences in theoretical productivity were insignificant. Costs, however, were a different matter. I would agree with Bernard’s comments that union labor involves more attendant and ancillary workers to get the same job done by non-union workers. Furthermore, supervision of workers is theoretically (and from a cost point of view) higher with union workers than it is with non-union workers.
For measuring productivity we used "Estimator’s General Construction Man-hour Manual" by John S. Page.
I have observed that turnarounds employing union labor vs those with non-union labor require much greater coordination to manage resources. The productivity losses were not so much from the individual’s performance as the inefficiencies of requiring 3 different skills [people] (with attendant mobilization issues) to do a job that one multi-skilled non-union type can perform in non-union shops.
Thanks for the link. Actually, I am more interested in productivity figures and comparative unit costs, rather than simple hourly rates. I wonder if there is recognized study on this.
I suspect that there is a "double hit" operating here, with union productivity also lower. Along with the higher hourly rates you have confirmed, this results in the final unit cost for union labor being far higher than non-union.
John
Member for
22 years 7 months
Member for22 years7 months
Submitted by Dayanidhi Dhandapany on Wed, 2004-07-28 04:28
Member for
21 years 4 monthsRE: Closed and Open Shop Union Productivity
John,
I was involved in a large construction project in the American Mid-West a few years ago, where we tried to have only non-union labor. We couldn’t get non-union labor in all trades, and where we did have to engage union labor, the differences in theoretical productivity were insignificant. Costs, however, were a different matter. I would agree with Bernard’s comments that union labor involves more attendant and ancillary workers to get the same job done by non-union workers. Furthermore, supervision of workers is theoretically (and from a cost point of view) higher with union workers than it is with non-union workers.
For measuring productivity we used "Estimator’s General Construction Man-hour Manual" by John S. Page.
Cheers,
Stuart
www.rosmartin.com
Member for
22 years 11 monthsRE: Closed and Open Shop Union Productivity
I have observed that turnarounds employing union labor vs those with non-union labor require much greater coordination to manage resources. The productivity losses were not so much from the individual’s performance as the inefficiencies of requiring 3 different skills [people] (with attendant mobilization issues) to do a job that one multi-skilled non-union type can perform in non-union shops.
Bernard Ertl
InterPlan Systems - ATC Professional Shutdown / Turnaround Management System
Member for
21 years 3 monthsRE: Closed and Open Shop Union Productivity
Dayanidhi,
Thanks for the link. Actually, I am more interested in productivity figures and comparative unit costs, rather than simple hourly rates. I wonder if there is recognized study on this.
I suspect that there is a "double hit" operating here, with union productivity also lower. Along with the higher hourly rates you have confirmed, this results in the final unit cost for union labor being far higher than non-union.
John
Member for
22 years 7 monthsRE: Closed and Open Shop Union Productivity
Dear John,
Is this Link helpful to you?.
Regards
Daya