Strength in Numbers

Construction union membership remains strong

33,000-member increase reported nationwide

Union membership remains strong in the construction industry despite a national recession since March.

High membership numbers prior to the recession are a tool unions use to weather turbulent economic times.

Overall union membership rose by 6,000 in Wisconsin between 1999 and 2000, according to the most recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The bureau reports a 33,000-member increase in construction unions nationwide, making 18.3 percent of the work force unionized.

With a 4.8 percent unemployment rate in November, Wisconsin is in a better economic position than the nation as a whole; the national rate of unemployment for November was 5.6 percent, according to bureau statistics.

“Around southeastern Wisconsin, there’s full employment, and they’re still looking for people,” said Tim Ihlenfeld, business manager of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers District Council of Wisconsin.

Richard Hintz, business manager of the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 434, does not see a negative impact on union membership caused by the recession. The union’s membership increased 5 percent this year, he said.

“The recession hasn’t hit us as much as we thought it would,” Hintz said.

He said the Twin Cities, Chicago and Racine are still active project sites, and there’s no shortage of projects seeking workers in the area. The union has workers assigned to a variety of jobs in Plover, Stanley and Rhinelander.

“Lots of hospitals are being built,” Hintz said.

There are plans for hospitals to be built in Wausau and Hudson, and a surgical center in Wisconsin Rapids is in the works.

School jobs drop

However, there are drops in other types of projects. The number of school projects is dwindling with a weakened economy.

Thomas Fisher, business manager of Construction and General Laborers Local 464, believes the uncertain economy makes people think twice about spending on large construction projects like schools.

“People are less likely to vote to go ahead on a referendum,” Fisher said.

Fisher also noticed a drop in private-sector projects since the Sept. 11 attacks. He thinks that our military involvement coupled with an unstable stock market caused people who were planning to build to hold off.

“The stock market was already on the downturn,” Fisher said. “That put it over the edge. They were a ‘go’ prior to that.”

More workers are laid off in his local because of fewer building projects this fall from the previous year.

Despite these slumps, many in the industry do not believe the recession will have a long-term impact. Although the economy is unpredictable, some forecast that recovery will occur by late spring or summer.

“I believe we’ll be in very stable condition by spring,” Hintz said.

Union members find there are some advantages to being unionized during slow times.

“When things are slow, the cream rises to the top,” said Fisher. “The skilled workers will continue to work.”

Unions heavily promote their skill and are dedicated to continual training.

“The pressure is always to have a good quantity of trained, skilled people,” said Ihlenfeld. “Pressure on us is more on the training end.”

Training essential

Unions like the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 434 train their members in the latest techniques.

“We invest heavily in training,” Hintz said. “We keep them on the cutting edge of the industry.”

Aside from a high skill level, union members also have the flexibility of job placement throughout the nation. When work is slow in one area, workers have the option of relocating to a more active region.

“Recession affects unions differently than the nonunion sector,” Hintz said. “Recessions never hit the U.S. as a whole; it hits a region.”

Regardless of what region workers are in, the benefit packages that unions offer are also attractive during a recession.

“For most nonunion workers, that’s their main concerns: benefits and health care,” Fisher said.

Unions have a variety of retirement and health-care plans for members to participate in that can be more difficult to find in the private sector.

“In slow times, that’s (health care) a biggie,” Fisher said. “In open shop, a lot of companies have problems with insurance, the cost factor.”

The large jump in membership since the last recession gives unions a stronger foothold to brace themselves with against this recession.

“The numbers help,” said Fisher. “Because of training, we feel we’re in a much better position than we were 10 years ago. We’re in better shape with our funds and pensions.”

The power that comes with a rise in their numbers follows unions to the negotiating table during a recession.

“We’ve increased our market share,” Hintz said.

This increase, along with the disappearance of the labor problems of the ‘70s and ‘80s, aid in current negotiations of labor contracts.

“We changed our approach in dealing with employers,” said Hintz. “We’ve built a bond between us. We’re partners in a venture.”

To insure that strong membership numbers are maintained, unions continue to recruit during the recession through advertisements and talking with nonunion workers and contractors. Unions offer workers benefits and flexibility, and contractors, a skilled work force that can adjust with the work load.

“We explain what unions are all about, and we build confidence with those we’re talking to,” Hintz said.

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