Profiting on Disaster: NJ Senate Votes To Exclude Non-Union Construction Workers For Hurricane Sandy Work

In New Jersey, nonunion workers need not apply.

Nonunion contractors and workers don’t stand a chance with this bill.  Labor Union Report has the story: 

A bill that was authored by an Ironworkers’ union organizer to expand union-only Project Labor Agreements–to include Hurricane Sandy cleanup and reconstruction–passed the New Jersey Senate on Monday along party lines 23-13.

The Ironworkers’ union organizer who drafted the pro-union bill, Steven Sweeney, also happens to be the president of the New Jersey Senate and recently accused New Jersey Governor Chris Christie of “praying†for Hurricane Sandy to hit New Jersey.

According to New Jersey State Senator Tom Kean, Jr. (R), a study conducted during Democrat Governor John Corzine’s reign showed that the costs of union-only PLAs increase the costs on a project from 18-24 percent.

According to Patrick Stewart, the president of New Jersey’s Associated Builders & Contractors–a trade organization comprised of primarily merit shop construction businesses opposed to the legislation, the bill now heads to the New Jersey assembly and, if it passes there, it may or may not be signed into law (or amended) by Governor Chris Christie.