What are the Pros and Cons of being a Union Electrical Contractor? - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

BeldenElectric · 08-29-2009, 10:38 PM

I'm in rural northwest North Dakota, looking to get my Masters' License soon and begin my own electrical contracting company. I plan to focus on plant work in the area. I'm in the middle of oil country, with a natural gas plant 5 miles from my house, an oil refinery beginning construction next summer 35 miles away, and a few other bio-diesel, ethanol, and power plants within an hour or two. My goal is to obtain work with a couple of these plants for expansion and maintenance.
Finding quality help is a real struggle for electrical contractors in the area (my father is one of them), especially in this rural setting. That makes me want to lean toward being union.
I would really appreciate some comments on the pros and cons of being a union contractor.

Thank You.

brian john · 08-29-2009, 10:59 PM

Maybe getting quality employees??????? That means (I WOULD ASSUME) the union has all then men tied up?

Other than that you will pay higher wages and have higher health and benefit cost.

Can't think of any other positives.

If the plants are union you may HAVE TO BE union to work there.

user5941 · 09-01-2009, 10:12 AM

access to trained personnel in the number you need just for the time you need them.Manning the jobs you have is critical in building a business and being able to access qualified personel with a phone call mis very valuable.

BDB · 09-01-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewire

access to trained personnel in the number you need just for the time you need them.

If this was really true.