TY - JOUR T1 - Standing at a Crossroads: The Building Trades in the Twenty-First Century JF - Labor History Y1 - 2005 A1 - Erlich, M. A1 - J. M. Grabelsky KW - benefits KW - building KW - construction KW - employment KW - unionization KW - wages AB -

American building trades unions have historically played a critical and stabilizing role in the nation’s construction industry, establishing uniform standards and leveling the competitive playing field. Union members have enjoyed better than average wages and benefits, excellent training opportunities, and decent jobsite conditions. But in the last thirty years the industry has undergone a dramatic transformation. This article describes the decline in union density, the drop in construction wages, the growth of anti-union forces, the changes in labor force demographics, the shift toward construction management, and the emergence of an underground economy. It also analyzes how building trades unions have responded to these changes, identifies structural impediments to union renewal, and proposes strategies for building trades unions to reassert their presence and power.

VL - 46 L2 - eng UR - http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/articles/281/ CP - 4 ER - TY - CHAP T1 - Construction Organizing: A Case Study of Success T2 - Organizing to Win: New Research on Union Strategies Y1 - 1998 A1 - Condit, B. A1 - Davis, T. A1 - J. M. Grabelsky A1 - Kotler, F. ED - K. Bronfenbrenner ED - Friedman, S. ED - Richard Hurd ED - Oswald, R. A. ED - Seeber, R. L. KW - construction KW - IBEW KW - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers KW - labor movement KW - organizing KW - trade unions AB -

[Excerpt] This chapter examines how IBEW Local 611, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, reversed its decline and between 1988 and 1994 reemerged as a dominant force in its jurisdiction. What the local did, how it did it, and what other building trade unions can learn from 611's success are the central points of the discussion.

JA - Organizing to Win: New Research on Union Strategies PB - ILR Press CY - Ithaca, NY L2 - eng UR - http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/articles/294/ ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Steward Training in the Construction Industry: The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Faces the Challenge JF - Labor Studies Journal Y1 - 1993 A1 - J. M. Grabelsky KW - construction KW - Cornell University KW - organizing KW - training KW - union AB -

[Excerpt] This article examines the development and delivery of the Carpenters union national construction steward training program. It describes the collaboration of the union and Cornell University in the design of the curriculum and the use of a train-the-trainer model in the delivery of the steward program in construction locals throughout the United States and Canada. Finally, it evaluates the effectiveness of the program in relation to the transfer of knowledge to participating stewards.

VL - 17 L2 - eng UR - http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/articles/289/ CP - 4 ER -