CONTRACTOR SUPERVISION IN UNIONIZED CONSTRUCTION

Effective, cost-conscious, goal-oriented supervision is a key requirement if productivity is to be improved on large industrial projects within the unionized sector of U.S. construction. The principal obstacle--not present in any other major industry--is the membership of foremen and general foremen in the same bargaining group as the employees they supervise. Recognizing widely fluctuating workloads in the construction industry and the varying geographic involvements of individual contractors, four general recommendations are offered. As an immediate objective, contractors seek to bargain out of labor agreements all references to supervisors above the first level of foreman. As an immediate objective, contractors arrange to handle, independently of unions, the recruitment, conditions of employment, and training of all supervisors above the first level of foreman. As a longer-term objective, contractors also seek to bargin out of labor agreements all references to first level foremen. However, contractors should retain the flexibility to draw foremen from craft positions during peak periods and to use such foremen in craft jobs subsequently during slack periods. Owners encourage contractor efforts to expand the management role of foremen and general foremen, to increase cadres of salaried supervisors (foremen and above), to reward the better performers, and to negotiate changes in labor agreements needed to accomplish these objectives. (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: 1982-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 14 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conflict of interest; Construction management; Labor unions; Personnel management; Productivity; Supervision
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Highways; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391404
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Report C-3
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 28 1985 12:00AM