Bayonne wants union labor in projects

[NYVet]

http://www.nj.com/jjournal/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1215239228297680.xml&coll=3


The Bayonne City Council is taking steps to utilize union labor in public construction projects.

The council will hear an ordinance at its meeting next week that, if passed, would require union labor be used in public construction contracts and construction contracts for which a tax abatement has been granted.

A public hearing will be held on the ordinance at the next Bayonne City Council meeting on July 16.

Councilman Anthony Chiappone said Thursday that the agreement has been expanded to apply to the whole city, not just construction on the Peninsula.

"It takes a pro-union stance," Chiappone said.

"Where public moneys are spent, we have an obligation" to use union labor, he added.



My comment
I thought that we had an obligation to make sure that the money was spent in the most efficient manner possible?

[Omaha Steve]

1. Local union labor is efficient

Better wages and benefits mean less spent on public assistance. Union jobs have better safety records. Union workers pay more in taxes across the board. Better wages keep the economy moving. See where I'm going?

[NYVet]

2. I see your points, however I have a question.

To mandate that you must use union labor seems to be discriminatory to me. What if another company that uses non union labor offers benefits to their employees that equals those that are received by their union counterparts and is able to underbid on the project?

[Omaha Steve]

3. This is in NJ

Could be. It is hard to find non union tradesman even here in Ne. Seeing how NJ is in a strong union state, I'm sure it has a prevailing wage clause and or living wage clause. Looks like they want to be reelected. Perhaps realizing that union workers have seniority, arbitration, retirement, and such guarantees comes into the thinking.