Press Room
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TAUC supports U.S. Army Reserve Employer Partnership InitiativeThe Association of Union Constructors co-signed a memorandum of mutual support with the U.S. Army Reserve as part of the military's new Employer Partnership Initiative on July 2. The initiative encourages employers to give special consideration to members of the U.S. Army ... |
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TAUC to host summer safety-labor forumUnion contractors, labor representatives and industrial business owners will convene in Pittsburgh to address critical safety and labor relations issues in industrial maintenance and construction on Sept. 9. The summer safety-labor forum, Pennsylvania Powers Union Construction, ... |
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Governing Member's jobsite recognized as OSHA 'new star'The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has certified the Longview Power Project, managed by TAUC Governing Member Aker Construction, Inc., as a new star site, the highest in its prestigious Voluntary Protection Programs. OSHA Deputy Regional ... |
Upcoming Webinar highlights care and inspection of fall arrest systemsThe Association of Union Constructors is pleased to present "Non-fatal attraction: Fall for your harness all over again," featuring Jack Moeding of Preferred Safety Products. The Webinar is scheduled to be held online on Thursday, August 13, from 2:00 p.m. EST to 3:00 p.m. EST. Registration ... |
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Summer 2009: Is the NMA too successful?The Summer 2009 issue of The Construction User is now available. Please call 703.524.3336 if you do not receive your copy by July 10, 2009. Also, please call us if someone you know would like to be added to the mailing list. |
Ironworkers breathe new life into Miami Valley marketing programIronworkers in the Dayton, Ohio, and Miami Valley area have reestablished a program to promote the trade to potential contractors and apprentices. The Ironworker Contractors Allied Partnership (ICAP) is focused on creating a larger market share for Ironworker contractors, and their labor force, ... |
Construction Safety Council conference dates set for 2010The Construction Safety Council announced its conference will be held Feb. 16-18, 2010, in Rosemont, Ill. For more information, please visit www.BUILDSAFE.org. |
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$6.9 million available for safety trainingThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced in the June 10th Federal Register that $6.9 million is available for safety training grants. The grants, intended for programs that train workers and employers in safety and health hazards, are available in 24 ... |
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'How to survive an OSHA inspection' available onlineTAUC's most recent educational webinar is available through the TAUC.org store. Click Here to access the webinar. |
ZISA sponsorships now availablePlease contact Mike Dorsey at 703.524.3336 x122 to secure a sponsorship of the 2009 Zero Injury Safety Awards Gala. |
More money for OSHAPresident Obama's FY 2010 U.S. Department of Labor budget includes approximately a 10 percent boost in funding for the Department of Labor. This budget also earmarks $564 million for the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, approximately a 10 percent increase from their FY 2009 ... |
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Mirgliotta honored with Spirit of Union Construction AwardThe Association of Union Constructors honored James Mirgliotta with its Spirit of Union Construction Award at TAUC Leadership Conference 2009 on May 7. var flashvars = {file:"/files/TLC09_Spirit.flv"}; var params = {allowfullscreen:"true", wmode:"transparent"}; var attributes = ... |
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Gruno named Craftperson of the YearThe Association of Union Constructors named Garth Gruno Craftperson of the Year at TAUC Leadership Conference 2009 on May 7. Gruno is a member of Ironworker Local No. 25, and was honored for his work with Midwest Steel, for Barton Malow Company, on the University of Michigan C.S. Mott ... |
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McCarron signals return to Building TradesAfter countless requests from our members, The Association of Union Constructors was pleased to host Douglas McCarron, president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, as its keynote speaker for TAUC Leadership Conference 2009 in Orlando. var flashvars = ... |
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Santillo elected TAUC presidentIn his acceptance speech, Santillo called on union contractors to work with industrial business owners and labor leaders to create a new set of action plans for business in this modern world. "We have entered a challenging era . . . an era in which union construction needs to rise ... |
Eight new directors elected to boardThe following individuals were elected to a two-year term (2009-2011): Gary Bohn, Kiewit Power Constructors Company; Robert Bowen, Bowen Engineering Corporation; Tony Downey, Day & Zimmermann NPS; Jake Hardy, NAES Power Contractors; Steve Johnson, GEM Industrial; William Ligetti, ... |
Excellence in construction safety and health celebrated at annual conferenceThe awards luncheon was held in conjunction with TAUC Leadership Conference 2009 in Orlando, Fla. Awards were presented by TAUC Safety and Health Committee Chairman Tony Downey, safety director at Day & Zimmermann NPS, Inc. Fluor Constructors International was recognized for the most hours ... |
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Contractors find strength in numbers at TAUC Leadership Conference 2009var flashvars = {file:"/files/TLC09_Recap.flv", image:"/images/video-thumbnail.jpg"}; var params = {allowfullscreen:"true", wmode:"transparent"}; var attributes = {}; swfobject.embedSWF("/js/flvplayer.swf", "video", "400", "226", "9.0.0", "/js/expressInstall.swf", flashvars, params); ... |
The "Codes of Excellence"In an increasingly more competitive construction climate, some of the International Unions have made efforts to increase the professionalism of their trades people by adopting "codes" or "standards" of excellence. The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) has compiled all of these so ... |
NCCCO launches rigger certificationThe National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) announced the availability of its much anticipated certification program for riggers. Rigger (Basic) is the first level in a three-level program. Development work on the Intermediate and Advanced Rigger levels is nearing ... |
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Spring 2009: The automotive collapseThe Spring 2009 issue of The Construction User is now available. Please call 703.524.3336 x124 if you do not receive your copy by April 10, 2009. Also, please call us if someone you know would like to be added to the mailing list. |
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TAUC hosts 'Pennsylvania Powers Union Construction'Union contractors will convene in Pittsburgh this fall for a TAUC Safety-Labor Forum. Click here to register. |
Unionized businesses no more likely to fail than non-unionizedEconomic Policy Institute's John DiNardo released a study concluding unionized businesses are no more likely to fail than non-unionized. Click here to read "Still Open for Business." |
State of Washington mulling new crane safety ruleWashington state officials are planning to adopt a new crane safety rule, according to a BNA report on March 19. The report said the Washington state rule would require crane certification, as well as operator certification, and would require the operator to have 2,000 hours of experience before ... |
Extensive membership research under wayThe Association of Union Constructors is conducting an intensive research effort to learn more about its membership. If you are a TAUC member, you may have already received and participated in the first part of this research. Our goal is to determine members' awareness of, interest in and ... |
Ohio's chief attorney endorses use of labor agreementsIn a bold change of policy, Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray says he supports local decisions to make project labor agreements a condition of bidding for construction projects involving state funds, according to a letter dated February 2009. "I am aware that some previous attorneys general ... |
Safety agency identifies obstacles to creating a sober workplaceTop 12 Reasons A Good Drug-Free Workplace Program Goes Bad According to the U.S. Department of Labor 1. The drug-free workplace program isn't tied into the organization?s safety plan since it's not required by OSHA regulations. 2. There is a policy on paper, but no one knows what it says. ... |
Nearly 900 union contractors answer call to complete W.O.R.K. profilesIf you would like to help industrial business owners find you for more work, please fill out your profile at www.TAUC.org/WORK/. Please call 703.524.3336 x124 if you need to obtain your username and password. |
TAUC congratulates new labor secretaryARLINGTON, Va. - The Association of Union Constructors looks forward to working with newly appointed Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. Rep. Hilda Solis, a democrat from California, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Feb. 24, one month after she was nominated to the post by President Obama. ... |
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Hood named director of industrial relationsThe Association of Union Constructors welcomed Jason Hood as its new director of industrial relations effective Feb. 16. "I have the privilege of welcoming Jason Hood to our organization," Stephen R. Lindauer, chief executive officer, said. "Jason's employee relations ... |
Obama lifts ban on labor agreements for federal construction projectsOn February 6, President Obama issued an executive order allowing federal agencies to utilize a project labor agreement on federal and federally assisted construction projects. The new order encourages agencies to consider imposing a project labor agreement but does not require agencies to do so. ... |
Sponsorship opportunities available for 2009The Association of Union Constructors is pleased to announce its 2009 Sponsorship Kit. This year's kit is your tool to maximizing your investment with our association. Opportunities to align your organization with our network of union construction decision-makers are available throughout the ... |
TAUC memorializes Willis with annual awardWASHINGTON, D.C. - The Association of Union Constructors announced it plans to memorialize industry leader James J. Willis, Sr., by renaming its annual construction innovation award. The James J. Willis Craftperson of the Year Award will be awarded to honorees who have demonstrated outstanding ... |
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For Safety's SakeThe Winter 2008 issue of The Construction User is now available. ... |
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Daughter of union shop steward tapped to be next Secretary of LaborPresident-Elect Barack Obama has designated Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., as his pick to be the next Secretary of Labor. You can read Associated Press coverage of the news by clicking here. You can learn about Solis' past ... |
Now accepting Thomas J. Reynolds Awards nominationsThe Association of Union Constructors is pleased to present the annual Thomas J. Reynolds Awards, recognizing excellence in construction safety and health. Nomination forms are now available online. Contractors are encouraged to submit nominations for the awards before March 8, 2009. The Thomas ... |
OSHA clarifies protective equipment ruleEmployers are required to provide personal protective equipment to every covered employee and can be cited for noncompliance on a per-employee basis, according to the final rule that was published in the Federal Registrar on Dec. 12 |
Creasap named director of safety and healthWASHINGTON, D.C. - The Association of Union Constructors welcomed Wayne Creasap as its new director of safety and health effective Dec. 8. "We're pleased to introduce Wayne Creasap, a well-established member of the construction community, as our new director of safety ... |
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Tell Congress to support emergency relief for pension plansWASHINGTON, D.C. - The Association of Union Constructors is pressing Congress for multiemployer pension plan funding relief in response to the recent dramatic stock market volatility, ... |
Construction industry leaders tackle big issues at "State of the Union"WASHINGTON, D.C. - More than 120 construction industry leaders, from 22 states, gathered for the "State of the Union... Construction Industry 2008" on Dec. 3. "Significant national economic challenges and industry hurdles promise to test our resilience next year," TAUC CEO Steve Lindauer said. ... |
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Congratulations Detroit Boiler Company, raffle winnerWASHINGTON, D.C. - Detroit Boiler Company, based out of Detroit, Michigan, was randomly selected in the Dec. 3 W.O.R.K. raffle for a full page advertisement in The Construction User. More than 300 contractors completed their W.O.R.K. profiles online during the month of ... |
Jurisdictional disputes remain problematic, members sayWASHINGTON, D.C. - TAUC contractors expressed frustration with persistent jurisdictional disputes at the "Can We TAUC Back?" panel, which was held at the Dec. 3 "State of the Union... Construction Industry." Al Black, vice ... |
Kuttner, Lucas and McCarron to speak at TAUC Leadership Conference 2009WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Association of Union Constructors is pleased to announce three of its headlining speakers for TAUC Leadership Conference 2009: Robert Kuttner, Wayne Lucas and Douglas McCarron. Robert Kuttner, a leading political economist, is co-founder and co-editor of The ... |
Crane safety Webinar emphasized attention to detail, proceduresMore than 60 registrants attended TAUC's Nov. 20 Webinar, "Lift your bottom line... lower the boom on crane accidents!," reflecting the union construction industry's commitment to improving crane safety. John Hartwell, crane instructor for the Operating Engineers Local 324, and Scott ... |
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Stohler steps in as acting chief of OSHAThomas M. Stohler was named Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, effective Nov. 10, 2008, according to an announcement by the agency. Stohler had been Deputy Assistant Secretary for OSHA at the U.S. Department of ... |
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OSHA chief resignedAs Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., heads the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and its staff of more than 2,200 safety and health professionals, whistleblower ... |
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TAUC welcomes Lisa Tanger as manager of communicationsThe Association of Union Constructors welcomes Lisa Tanger as its new manager of communications. Tanger will serve as the executive editor of the association's magazine, The Construction User, as well as handle all media ... |
Free boots!For a limited time, when you start a uniform program with Aramark Uniform Services, each of your uniform-wearers will receive a free pair of steel-toe boots. Just mention that you are a TAUC member when you call Tania Allaire at 818.973.3906. ... |
2008 Construction Conditions SurveyBy Robert Gasperow The industrial construction market is currently in an expansion period. This is fostering a growing situation of additional work practices which increase labor costs beyond the contractual wage and fringe rate. As a result, traditional measures of labor costs ... |
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Can We TAUC?TAUC hosted a town-hall style forum at the 2008 Leadership Conference which brought together Presidents from the Bricklayers, Electrical Workers, Ironworkers, Painters and Masons unions. The panel was moderated by Mark Breslin, and included General President ... |
Twenty union contractors join as new regular membersThe Association of Union Constructors is pleased to announce 20 union contractors have joined TAUC to promote excellence in the union construction industry: Chapman Industrial Construction Concrete Constructors Inc Creative Crane & Rigging Inc Deig Bros. Lumber & Constrction Co.... |
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The Construction Industry and the EconomyBy Dale Belman, Ph.D. You don't need an economist, a soothsayer or a Magic 8 Ball to tell you that the current economic downturn will affect the U.S. construction industry. The real questions are which markets will be most affected and how long will the current market conditions last? In ... |
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Michigan Drives Union Construction Continues Dialogue to Advance IndustryBefore a packed hall of union contractors, labor leaders and representatives from the owner community, TAUC's First Vice President, Bob Santillo, of McCarl's Inc., opened TAUC's annual summer safety - labor forum with ... |
The Craft Labor Supply and Demand Symposium: Connecting the DotsOver 100 industry professionals from the contractor, owner, and labor communities met in Merrillville, Indiana on June 19th for the Construction Advancement Foundation's Craft Labor Supply & Demand Symposium. TAUC President, Robert Hoover of Aker Construction, Inc. and TAUC CEO, Stephen ... |
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Can We TAUC?The following are excerpts from the General President's panel entitled "Can We TAUC?" from the 2008 Leadership Conference. The panel was moderated by Mark Breslin, and included General President Patrick Finley of the Operative Plasters & Cement Masons' International Association, President John ... |
2008 Specialty Construction Industry Legislative ConferenceThe Association of Union Constructors (TAUC), The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) and the International Council of Employers of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (ICE) held their Inaugural Specialty Construction ... |
TAUC Contractors Recognized for Exemplary Year in SafetyThe Thomas J. Reynolds Awards for Excellence in Construction Safety and Health were created more than 2 decades ago to recognize and commend the exceptional efforts made by TAUC contractor members to prevent the occurrence of serious injury or worse on the jobsite. Along with TAUC's Craftsperson ... |
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Ingenuity and Leadership on the Jobsite RecognizedThe Association of Union Constructors' (TAUC) Annual Craftsperson Awards for Ingenuity and Innovation in Construction were presented on May 15th in conjunction with TAUC's second annual Leadership Conference which took place in Miami, FL. The Craftsperson Awards for Ingenuity and Innovation in ... |
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Union Contractors Have Spoken!On Friday, May 16th, the final day of TAUC's 2nd Annual Leadership Conference, CLRC's Executive Director Bob Gasperow was on hand to shed light on the findings of the 2008 Construction Industry Conditions Survey and touched on what these trends mean for union contractors. The survey's ... |
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Union Employer Groups AlignA historic moment recently took place as The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) and the National Association of Construction Boilermaker Employers (NACBE) formed a strategic alliance that will help both organizations in advancing mutual interests. The two groups have already ... |
BoltTech Hydraulic Wrench FailureAt a generating plant in late March, a new hydraulic wrench from BoltTech (Model QD14 SQDR, S/N 938), was being used to loosen a bolt from a valve. As the operator was attempting to loosen the first bolt the pressure had increased to 8,000 psi when the cast housing of the wrench exploded. The ... |
TAUC/DOL - Drug Free Workplace AllianceAmerica's businesses pay a high price for alcohol and drug abuse. Some costs-increased absences, accidents and errors--are obvious. Others, such as low employee morale and high illness rates, are less so, but the effects are equally harmful. Employers have enormous power to protect their businesses ... |
Contractors and Federal Spending Accountability Act of 2008The federal Government is the world's largest purchasing department. Prudent fiscal managers and government anti-fraud officials have long recognized they should keep better track of the legal compliance of the companies they do business with. They need legislative support and funding to create the ... |
TAUC Welcomes Aramark Uniform Services as Newest Preferred Service ProviderThis year, ARAMARK Uniform Services, a division of ARAMARK, joined TAUC as a Preferred Service Provider. Aramark is a global leader in professional services. Since 1998, ARAMARK has consistently ranked as one of "America's Most Admired Companies" by Fortune. Currently, Aramark provides uniform ... |
2008 Construction Industry Conditions SurveyThe Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) and the Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) have a long history of working together on this type of data analysis, to provide additional value to its' membership, but also to find ways through hard statistical analysis to make union contractors ... |
Laborers Rejoin the AFL-CIO Building & Construction Trades DepartmentWashington, DC - The Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) announced today that they have rejoined the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, effective immediately. The BCTD Governing Board of Presidents approved the re-affiliation of LIUNA by a unanimous ... |
American Bridge Company Repairs Chesapeake Bay BridgeAn American mainstay, American Bridge Company has been erecting bridges and structures across the US for more than a century. Like its bridges, its legacy spans the US's modern industrial history: It has worked on landmark commercial projects ranging from New York's Chrysler Building to the San ... |
The Future of the Construction IndustryPart 3: How to Attract and Retain Workers in the Future The construction industry needs a paradigm shift in the way it deals with the workforce. The industry must develop a pro-worker environment because nothing less will attract and retain the necessary workers. The industry must understand and ... |
Study on Welding in Confined Spaces Reports Manganese Exposure EffectsWith jobsite safety and health at the top of any contractor's priorities, TAUC consistently looks to keep it's membership up-to-date on the issues that matter. In a study published in the March issue of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, it was found that adverse ... |
Campaign for Quality Construction - National Issues Legislative ConferenceThe Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) is co-sponsoring The Campaign for Quality Construction?s National Issue Conference, May 1-3, 2007, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington D.C. This conference includes issue briefings, incisive guest speakers, insider Washington information, addresses by ... |
Six-Union MAC Group Formally Approves "Jurisdictional Warranty," Resolution RulesAmong its stated objectives, the MAC unions are committed to "marketing the skills of our crafts," "fostering cooperative efforts" among the affiliates, "maintaining craft unionism with common sense cooperative job practices," performing "quality work," and "maintaining a level of productivity" ... |
Awful BossesA bad boss, at one point or another most of us have had to endure a few months or maybe even a number of years taking orders from a superior who just doesn?t seem to care. For those of us that have been spared the ?bad boss? experience, some insight has been provided by Working America, a community ... |
OSHA at a CrossroadsThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has some thinking to do. With close to 65% of the agency?s staff either eligible for retirement or nearing that point in time, now is the time for OSHA to decide what the future holds. Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor for ... |
Steel Production Goes GreenThe greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted from producing steel has always been an environmental concern for the construction industry. Recently though, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered a new means of processing iron, a key ingredient in steel, that removes the ... |
Ironworker Welding Certification ProgramSince 1998, thirty-thousand Ironworkers have been trained and certified in an extensive number of pre-qualified welding procedures through the Ironworkers Welding Certification Program. This program is nationally recognized and was created in conjunction with structural welding code from the ... |
New Boilermaker Training Center OpensJust last fall, the members of Boilermakers Local 132 proudly dedicated a $1 million training facility in La Marque, TX. Its goal: turn out union trained Boilermakers to meet the demand of the booming construction business. With plenty of work to go around, especially in the power plant sector, the ... |
Marketplace Favors Nonresidential ConstructionNonresidential construction continues to see growth according to the Federal Reserve. Despite a decline in residential construction, work in industries such as health care, education and public works is on the rise. With many project backlogs at high levels, contractors are anticipating that ... |
Thriving OSHA Challenge Program Continues its SuccessOn November 8th, 2006 The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC), met with Occupational Safety and Health Administration Voluntary Protection Program (OSHA VPP) personnel and fellow OSHA Challenge Program administrators, at the Department of Labor. Over the course of an entire day, the group ... |
ACCSH Unanimously Votes to Support Proposed Cranes and Derricks StandardOccupational Safety and Health Administration Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) recently voted to support a draft proposal from OSHA on a new Cranes & Derricks Standard. ACCSH encouraged OSHA to ?move forward with deliberate speed to issue the Standard?. The Crane and ... |
Workplace Safety is Key Issue for Joining UnionsA recent poll released by the Employment Law Alliance finds that the leading factor for a worker?s decision to join a union is workplace safety. While factors like better benefits, higher wages and increased job security were all important, 64 percent of respondents cited safety as the top reason ... |
Protect Against Heat IllnessThe heat wave that has blistered the United States over the past two weeks reminds us to remind you to take necessary precautions. Of course, construction is outdoor work, generally with demanding production goals. Even on the hottest days, the work must go on. Nevertheless, when high temperature ... |
Union Jobs Almost 17% More ProductiveIn a presentation by Mr. Dean Findley, Regional Director of the firm Independent Project Analysis (IPA), given at the Construction Users Round Table?s Annual Conference in Tucson, Arizona, it was determined that Union Jobs are almost 17% more productive than Non-Union Jobs. Since 1992, Mr. Findley ... |
