It is not news and you are aware, the US labor force is aging. The average age of the US workforce is now 41.8 years old. Between 1985 and 2010, the average age of construction workforce went from 36 to 41.5 years old. Age distribution within the construction workforce has also changed.In the same 15 year period, the proportion of workers aged 45 to 64 years old increased to almost 40% of the construction workforce. The proportion of younger workers in the industry decreased significantly. This is not sustainable.

 

What you may not be aware of is that as of October 2014, the Northern New England and Massachusetts Laborers District Council had received 600,000 more contribution hours (hours worked) than in all of 2013. They expect to have 1 million more work hours in 2014 than in 2013 in this union alone. Over the summer of 2014 the Laborers added 400 new members.The pipe-fitters, the electrical workers and carpenters all say they are increasing their membership. 

 

Also, recent decisions by the Obama controlled NLRB, OSHA and DOL such as the approval of micro-units, union access to open shop construction sites, and upcoming changes in laws relating to the "ambush" or "quickie" election rules, "Persuader" rules and an enhanced definition of protected concerted activities will give trade unions greater access to open shop employees and provide less opportunity for employers to educate employees about or to oppose unionization.  

 

What you don't know will hurt you. Are you prepared to protect your company, retain your employees and recruit new employees? With a downturn in younger workers entering the construction industry contractors and unions increasingly turn to the existing workforce as the source for workers and that may include your employees. On December 2 ABC hosted a seminar to promote awareness, provide information and to stress the importance of effective internal communications. To quote a participant at the seminar who recently dealt with an aggressive union campaign to solicit and ultimately organize his employees; "most employers if asked about their communications and relationship with employees would state that they have good communications with their employees. Well, I am here to suggest you probably do not and it must be a priority."  

 

Please, don't hesitate to contact ABC for any assistance to support your efforts. To begin you may CLICK HERE for an overview of what you need to know.