Mark Dooley is the field superintendent for Emerald Fire. He has experience working on large jobs with multiple sprinkler contractors, both open shop and union. One open shop fitter he worked with was really excited to be working on a prevailing wage job because on a prevailing wage job the contractor is required to pay workers a minimum. That meant that the open shop fitter got a pay raise while working the prevailing wage job.

Mark asked the open shop fitter how occasionally working prevailing wage jobs impacts his household. What happens when the job ends? Does his employer cut his pay back again? The answer was yes, his pay did get cut back as soon as the prevailing wage job ended.

On the other hand, Mark knows exactly how much he will make each week, no matter the type of job. And because he consistently knows how much he makes each week he can plan and budget accordingly.

The open shop fitter countered by stating that it’s ok that he gets a pay cut every time a prevailing wage job ends because his boss takes him to the NASCAR track every year where he gets to enjoy box seats. Mark points out that the open shop fitter is actually paying for those trips out of his pay cuts. H jokes, “If you gave me half of your paycheck I’d take you to Arizona to watch NASCAR each year, too!”

Mark’s overall point is that at the end of the day all you need to do is lay out the facts to see the benefits of being a union member. You can compare wages, you can compare medical benefits, you can compare retirement, and at the end of the day, there simply isn’t anyone out there who can match what the union has to offer. He closes by stating, “It’s really not much of a sales pitch because facts are facts.”

If you want to see the facts for yourself, we are happy to show them to you. Call today to learn more about the benefits of joining the union.