Power Struggle Erupts in Construction Trades
As Two Crafts Plan to Organize Rival Group
By Harry Kelber
In an obvious power play, the national presidents of two construction unions--the Laborers and Operating Engineers-- announced on Feb. 14 that they were quitting the AFL-CIO¹s Building and Construction Trades Department and were planning to form a rival organization, the National Construction Alliance, that would include the Carpenters, Bricklayers, Iron Workers and Teamsters.
The two labor leaders--Terence O¹Sullivan of the Laborers and Vincent J. Gitlin of the Operating Engineers--were dissatisfied with the response of Department officials to their four-point ultimatum that called for revising craft jurisdiction, reducing the budget, changing the Governing Board's voting system and replacing all current officers.
In his reply, Edward C. Sullivan, the AFL-CIO's Department president, said: "Neither Mr. Sullivan nor Mr. Gitlin has bothered to attend a Governing Board meeting in many months. Had they done so and presented their case honestly and openly to the general presidents of our affiliated unions, much of what they claim to seek could have been achieved in the best interests of the unionized construction industry and all of our members." Sullivan noted that nine construction crafts, including the electricians, plumbers, painters and boilermakers, supported the present leaders and had refused to quit the Department.
The latest cleavage within the construction industry sets the stage for intense raiding by both sides that can escalate into an all-out jurisdictional war in the construction industry. Contractors will hesitate to sign agreements with one group of unions for fear of being subjected to disruptions and possible strikes by the rival group. Under these circumstances, the non-union sector of the industry is bound to continue its growth rather than submit to unionization.
Sullivan has sent a letter to 350 building trades councils in North America, repeating that "in the summer of 2005, at a high-level meeting of our industry¹s leaders- owners, contractors and unions--the Department promised that the building trades would do everything in our power to prevent internal political disputes from adversely affecting our industry, We remain committed to that principle, and we ask for your continued support in keeping that promise."
Explaining why the Laborers were withdrawing from the Department, O'Sullivan said: 'We can't stand idly by, tied to a past that promises only further decline in construction union membership." Unions represent less than 20 percent of the construction industry, compared with twice that number about 35 years ago. But neither the Laborers, Operating Engineers or any of the other construction crafts has made significant progress in organizing.
One of the major reasons for the weakness of the Department is that the leader of each craft union operates his own union as a private fiefdom, seeking to defend or expand his jurisdiction in the industry. There is more hostility rather than solidarity among the crafts. There are no joint organizing campaigns involving all of the crafts, and, with the latest split, the possibility of unified action has become even more remote.
O'Sullivan and Giblin have not come forward with an organizing plan, but prefer to restrict their criticism to the ineptitude of the Department leadership. It can be predicted that when the National Construction Alliance is established in the near future, it will affiliate with the Change-to-Win Coalition, since the Laborers, Carpenters and Teamsters will belong to both organizations.
Neither O'Sullivan nor Gitlin consulted their own members on the decision to split from the Department. They think they own their union and have no need to ask for members' approval. So while they are playing the game of power politics, construction workers may see more of their jobs go non-union, and they'll lose whatever rights they have as union members.
With so much at stake, what can we do about it? At the very least, union members who are laborers and operating engineers should ask for a referendum on whether their union should or should not quit the Building and Construction Trades Department.
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