In 1985, the top movie in America was the Michael J. Fox classic Back to the Future. Watching it was an experience that you enjoyed as a kid and then a movie you enjoyed sharing with your kids in turn.  It stands the test of time. 

1985 is also the year that a group of a dozen contractors dedicated to the merit shop philosophy and inspired by the Live Free or Die attitude of our great State, came together to form the NH/VT Associated Builders and Contractors chapter.

When asked about what the “merit shop philosophy” is, I say it is a movement for the betterment of the individual, the construction industry and our country.  It is about a belief in free enterprise, and that both employees and employers should have the right to determine wages and working conditions through either individual or collective bargaining, as they choose, within the boundaries of the law but not otherwise compelled by government mandate. 

The merit shop philosophy embraces responsible leadership and stewardship by both employees and employers.  It reflects the belief that fair play for both employer and employee – through ensuring general employee welfare, satisfactory performance of assigned work and fair compensation for work performed - is essential to the preservation of our free enterprise system.

Today, 40 years since that initial group of a dozen founders came together, the ABC NH/VT chapter is the leading professional construction association in New England, including nearly 300 construction companies and industry serving firms.  Our member companies represent thousands of skilled employees who are literally building New Hampshire every day and providing essential services to our friends, families, neighbors and businesses large and small alike. 

Over the past four decades, we are particularly proud of having skilled or upskilled thousands of construction workers and craft professionals.  Concern over a lack of skilled workers in the trades has finally become a regular part of the workforce development conversation, but for us, addressing that concern it has always been a top priority. To that end, ABC NH/VT is the sponsor of New Hampshire’s only multi-employer Registered Apprenticeship Carpentry program, which collaborates with New Hampshire’s Community College system to answer the industry’s need for more skilled tradespeople.  We also created the “I Build New Hampshire” branding – found at www.ibuildnh.org – which helps raise career opportunity awareness to students and adult decision makers in their lives.  The program even partnered with NH PBS to produce a robust “hero story” video series.

Advocacy is a critical element of ABC NH/VT, and we are proud of our role as a leading voice for improving the construction environment in our State, and as a subject matter resource for leaders of both parties to address critical issues for the common good. This year we are seeing promising gains in the future of housing construction with thoughtful building and permitting reforms promoted by Governor Ayotte and legislative leaders.  We are grateful to the Governor and all leaders who come together to solve important issues like this one collaboratively and creatively.

Looking ahead, we urge the State to take on construction proposal and bid reform to ensure the most efficient process possible, and a level playing field for both union and non-union employers alike.  Punitive measures such as project labor agreements often disadvantage non-union, merit shop contractors—excluding them from the negotiation process and forcing them to adhere to union-specific work rules. These agreements may require companies to recognize unions for job representation, use union hiring halls for workforce recruitment, and abide by union benefit structures. 

These types of PLA agreements – common in Massachusetts – can increase construction costs by 20%, reduce competition and close the door on non-union employers.  With 90% of New Hampshire’s workforce non-union, a policy that simply says government will remain neutral and not mandate PLAs would embody the New Hampshire way and ensure fair treatment for these thousands of employees.    

One of the most memorable lines from Back to the Future comes from Doc Brown at the end when he says “Roads?  Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”  While we may wish to see some of the futuristic elements from the movie, we’re still going to need roads.  And bridges, houses, apartments, commercial buildings, schools, churches and community centers. As we celebrate 40 great years as an Association, we are proud that we too have stood the test of time.  We look forward to the next 40 years and beyond of building the future for the Granite State.     

 

Josh Reap is President and CEO of the Association of Builders and Contractors for NH / VT, based in Concord. He lives in Candia.