EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION IN CONSTRUCTION

Exclusive juridsiction--which is based on the notion that every task can be performed only be members of a particular union--is a major source of inefficiencies in construction. It may well be the greatest handicap faced by union contractors as they attempt to avoid further losses in their shrinking share of the construction market. This study examined the 1974 Business Roundtable report, "Jurisdictional Problems in Construction," and found that its observations remain valid. Costly jurisdictional disputes still occur, but an even greater cost to the industry results from inefficient work assignments routinely made to comply with precedents and jurisdictional agreements and to avoid disputes. A survey by Stanford University, which identified key areas of jurisdictional problems, substantiates the belief that jurisdiction imposes major costs on union contractors. Among many detailed conclusions and recommendations in this report, four key recommendations deserve special emphasis. Representatives of owners and contractors, at projects in the field, need to be much more knowledgeable about jurisdictional matters, their rights and roles in the assignment of work, and the resolution of jurisdictional disputes on their union-shop projects. Contractors should have freedom to assign work to available workers who have the ability to perform the work safely and efficiently. Jurisdictional agreements must be revised to allow this. Recognition that there is work common to more than one craft is an essential element of any dispute-resolution plan. Contractors, unions and owners should reduce deterrents at jobsites which interfere with efficient assignment of work. Mergrs of some international unions are also needed to reduce both structural and political deterrents to more flexible work assignments. Open-shop contractors should be viligant to avoid an undue emphasis on craft lines, which can result from their employee-classification systems. They should also seek opportunities to develop more multiskilled journeymen and multi-craft supervisors. (Author)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • A Construction Industry Cost Effectiveness Project Report.
• Corporate Authors:

  Business Roundtable

  200 Park Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10166
• Publication Date: 1982-7

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Tables;
• Pagination: 45 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction management; Contractors; Economic efficiency; Governments; Labor; Labor relations; Labor unions; Traffic assignment
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Jurisdiction; Work
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Economics; Highways; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391402
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Report C-1
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 28 1985 12:00AM