New Study Shows Union Workers Bring More Value, Efficiency to Construction Projects than Non-Union Contractors

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

In a new report conducted by the independent international construction engineering and research firm Independent Project Analysis (IPA), union mechanical contractors were found to be more productive and less costly than non-union contractors. Further, union contractors pose significantly less risk of cost overruns and schedule delays than open shop contractors. This new data is exceptionally timely given the massive amount of spending planned for semiconductors, energy systems, and other infrastructure.

“It should come as no surprise that an independent analysis found union workers to be far more efficient, effective, and safer than non-union workers. United Association members are the best trained and most highly skilled craftspeople in the industry – and the results of this study confirm that there is far more value in hiring union contractors,” said Mark McManus, General President of the United Association. “At the UA, we invest more than $275 million in private funding every year in our training and apprenticeship programs. We’re proud of the investments we make and our longstanding partnership with the Mechanical Contractors Association of America and our signatory contractors. These investments mean that our members are always at the cutting edge of technology and best practices, and able to provide superior skilled labor on the jobsite. There really is no question for end users: If you want the job done right the first time, if you want the job done on budget, and if you want the job done as safely as possible, hire union mechanical contractors.”

The report found that union mechanical contractors are 15% more productive than non-union contractors and reduce risks of cost and schedule overruns by more than 40% when compared to non-union contractors. In total, union projects cost 4% less than non-union projects.

You can read the full study at the link here.