It's a Great Time To Be a Union Worker

Via Curbed, the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center put together an interesting presentation outlining logistics of downtown projects as well as projects in the region (here's a PDF). The logistics issues are concrete, steel, and labor demand, as well as worker transportation and security.

There are some great graphs that show how many projects, including the World Trade Center, East Side Access, MTA projects, the Atlantic Yards, etc., will all compete for materials and labor. With a limited supply of good union labor, we predict that it will be even harder to find competent workers and finish projects on time.

The LMCCC report shows that the highest projected demand for labor will be in 2009, with the months from January-March at especially high levels. The Labor Demand chart shows the progress of WTC Site projects increasing steadily towards 2010 until there's finally a lag in labor demands in those projects. The demand for some trades will actually outstrip the supply of labor. The peak demand for metal lathers is projected to be 25% more than the maximum supply.

Some more charts after the jump:

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By Jen Chung in News on August 1, 2007 3:32 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

I'm an it engineer for SUNY and the County of Westchester and we've been working without a contract for like 3 years at this point.

guest

IBEW = I barely ever work.

guest

Yea its a real great time for unions, I'm in electrical union local 3 ibew and i'm out of work for 9 months

Karen

Great time for unions? YEah, if you're Ron Gettlefinger. As for me, its NOT a great time to be a rank and file UAW member.

guest

Where can I get one of the "no show" Union jobs?

aren't there at least 2 of these jobs available per site?

I don't see a category for the No Show jobs that's needed in the boom.

S.D.

"Not to mention meddling in politics to protect their jobs."

Yes, Shame on them for asking for Political Representation! WTF are they thinking, that the U.S.A. is a Democracy?!?

(sigh)

If they were merely banding together as a Political Party, that's OK?

Reality Czech

Isn't this what we have illegal aliens for? To take up some of the slack?

guest

One can be pro-blue collar and anti-union, Tim N. For every decent thing unions do like ensure fair wages and safe working conditions they do about twice as many bad things like keep incompetent people in their jobs and ask for ridiculously extravagant reitrement benefits. Not to mention meddling in politics to protect their jobs.

cwbuecheler

Great time to be in the mob, too, I imagine.

JMH

Lathing.

guest

I've got some metal that needs lathering.

guest

Actually the headline is idiotic - If the demand for the particular trade exceeds the supply, the wages go up naturally; the union has nothing to do with that.