ABC Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter is dedicated to the protection of the Free Enterprise system and open competition to all markets. We believe all companies and their employees are free to work based on the merits of their skills, safety and qualification.
As such, ABC Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter opposes any government mandates, bills, ordinances or the like that would infringe, impair or eliminate free and open competition.
Barack Obama's Executive Orders
Non-Displacement of Qualified Workers
Notification of Employee Rights Under Federal Labor Laws
Economy in Government Contracting
Summary of Executive Orders
Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA):
The most widely publicized change to the National Labor Relations Act as a result of EFCA will be the substitution of a system of election by card check rather than through a secret ballot system that is currently used. If a union collected authorization cards for 50% plus one of your employees, you would be unionized. In most instances, this would occur without your knowledge or having a chance discuss the issue with your employees. The card check system is also prone the use of intimidation and peer pressure by union organizers. For more information, click here.
Resources:
Card Check Poster
Claim Vs. Fact Sheet
EFCA Organizing Pocket Guide
EFCA Piece
EFCA Ad
Union Only Project Labor Agreements:
A Project Labor Agreement, or PLA, is an agreement between organized labor and construction project owners that require project contractors to hire most, if not all, of their workers from union halls. Additionally, PLA’s require adherence to collective bargaining agreements and antiquated union work rules that are not normally required on public work. All contractors, even nonunion contractors, must sign these agreements before construction can begin. Because they limit competition on public construction projects by effectively barring open shop contractors from bidding on projects, they increase the costs to taxpayers. ABC Eastern PA opposes the imposition of PLA’s on public construction projects.
Prevailing Wage Laws:
The Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. Pennsylvania (ABC EPA) believes the Prevailing Wage Act should be repealed. In the alternative, ABC EPA believes that each government agency should have the right to opt out of Prevailing Wage Act coverage. Additionally, prevailing wages should be reformed to reflect the true occupational wages reported on form UC-2 for each standard industry code and allow for competition on the benefits packages currently mandated.
Responsible Bidder Ordinances (sometimes referred to as “Best Value”):
So-called “responsible contractor ordinances” provide that the only training that satisfies the ordinance is that provided by union apprenticeship programs. The unions argue that this is the only means to guarantee that companies have a skilled workforce. However, there are other high quality apprentice training programs that ensure the skill sets needed by contractors. ABC Eastern PA operates State and federally approved apprenticeship-training programs in many of the construction trades for its members and their employees. Many ABC members utilize these training programs, while others have chosen to establish their own in- house or outside training programs to produce the skilled construction employees they need. ABC Eastern PA opposes these union efforts to exclude qualified contractors from performing public work.
Apprenticeship Equality:
Currently there is considerable inconsistency in Pennsylvania’s apprenticeship ratio requirements between union and open shop contractors. Under the current apprenticeship ratio requirement system, unions have the ability to designate their ratio on a job-by-job basis, while open shop contractors need approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry for any changes. ABC Eastern PA is striving to create a more consistent apprentice ratio requirement system where the union and open shop contractors are subject to the same requirements. ABC Eastern PA believes that all apprenticeship requirements should be uniform regardless of whether a contractor is union or open-shop.
Contractor Licensure:
Currently Pennsylvania does not require the licensing of construction firms. ABC believes licensure would not result in sufficient protection to warrant additional government burdens on construction business. Numerous protections exist for construction clients to receive protection from faulty or unscrupulous construction firms such as; local and county permitting processes, local and county zoning officials, inspectors and trade association to provide referrals on quality contractors. ABC opposes any effort to mandate licensure.
Senate Bill 100 - Home Improvement Act
Business Taxation:
Tax burdens on business are increasing annually as more government mandates require funding sources. Additionally, the tax codes have become cumbersome and difficult for business to comprehend. Adding tax burden to business only stifles economic growth and employment opportunities. ABC believes in a comprehensive tax reform in order to simplify the tax process and lessen the load on business.
Insurance Reform:
Insurances of all kind continue to affect businesses ability to earn profits. Higher Workers’ Compensation, Unemployment Compensation and Healthcare insurances make Pennsylvania one of the least attractive states in the nation for conducting business. ABC believes a reform and lowering of Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Compensation insurance is crucial to the economic success of our Commonwealth.
Protect Right To Secret Ballot Elections:
Every employee deserves an opportunity to vote in a secret ballot election to determine whether he/she desires to be represented by a union. This is a sacred right guaranteed by any democratic society. The current system works just fine as is and is balanced for all parties. NLRB statistics reflect that unions have won representation elections in 54% of elections conducted from October 2003–March 2003 to 60.8% of elections from April 2005–September 2005. During that period just over 5% of the elections were challenged by unions and management.
Local Government I Federal Senate I Federal House of Reps.