As a management representative and negotiator for 200 union-affiliated contracting firms, I welcome the carpenters' Douglas McCarrron's efforts to shake up the status quo of construction labor unions in the U. S. (ENR 3/18 p. 10). For far too long, unions have sought political solutions to their problems rather than concentrating on modern marketing, operational and financial strategies. The marketing of union affiliation cannot be based on "mom, apple pie and the American Way" anymore.
Like any visionary executive, McCarron focuses on business development, market share, client satisfaction, consolidation and return-on-investment. This is simply complementary capitalism, mixing management strategy and union resources. "Union Yes!" is a hollow slogan when not backed up by value-added relationships and profit-centered thinking. McCarron, Terence O'Sullivan of the laborers and most of the BCTD Heavy and Highway Division clearly get it.