The UA and its signatory contractor partners are experiencing unprecedented labor and construction demand, helping them grow union market share. A unionized workforce provides the stability needed to attract new contractors and secure owner commitments to union labor. This stability depends on reliable, cost-effective resources for resolving jobsite and bargaining disputes—resources that have been disrupted by the current Administration’s effective shutdown of the FMCS. A new White Paper, Utilizing the Industrial Relations Council to Effectively Resolve Labor-Management Disputes, proposes the Industrial Relations Council (IRC) as a faster, more affordable, and effective alternative for keeping it within our industry.
Content of the White Paper, which was discussed during the 2025 UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference, covers:
- Introduction and History of the Industrial Relations Council
- Rules, Regulations, and Policies of the Council
- Negotiation Matters
- Grievance/Arbitration Matters
- Recent Trump Administration Actions Against the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
- Alternatives to the FMCS
- Comparative Benefits of the Council
- Expertise
- Speed of Resolution
- Cost