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Non-Union Construction Offers a Good Deal on Vikings Stadium

 

For Immediate Release

September 19, 2012

Contact: Phil Raines, Vice President of Public Affairs

Phone: 952-941-8693

 

 

(Eden Prairie) - Associated Builders and Contractors of Minnesota/North Dakota (ABC) today announced that they will promise no strikes, lockouts, or pickets of the Minnesota Vikings stadium project if they are given a fair shot at working on the job.

 

Last Friday, the Minnesota Stadium Facilities Authority voted to draft a resolution requiring a Project Labor Agreement on the project. Such agreements are generally designed to give construction trade unions exclusive representation rights on the job, in exchange for a no-strike guarantee.

 

This means that workers on the project have no choice whether to affiliate with a union, and must pay dues, follow union work rules, agree to be represented by union officials, and pay into health and pension plans into which they will not accumulate enough time to qualify for benefits.

 

"More than two-thirds of construction workers in Minnesota choose to work based on merit, and they simply want a fair and open shot at winning the work," said Robert Heise, President of ABC. "When you choose merit workers, you don't have to fear them walking off the job, or picketing to demand higher wages."

 

Approximately half of today's NFL stadiums were built under a Project Labor Agreement, while the others realized healthy savings through a competitive bidder pool that did not discriminate against merit shop contractors.

 

"This isn't about wages, which are set by the state's prevailing wage law, said Heise. "This isn't about safety, since many of our contractors have won safety awards and partnered with MNOSHA. Plus, safety inspections on this job will be routine and thorough."

 

"All workers should be willing to guarantee no strikes, walkouts, or picketing on this job, without demanding payments to union funds."

 

Associated Builders and Contractors of Minnesota/North Dakota
10193 Crosstown Circle
Eden Prairie, MN  55344
p) 952-941-8693
f) 952-941-8698
www.mnabc.com