Barack Obama Sneaks Through “Union Only” Order Shutting 8 in 10 Construction Workers Out of Federal Projects

Red State Morning Briefing

Posted by Erick Erickson (Profile)

Tuesday, September 1st at 7:00AM EDT

There has not been a lot of coverage of this. It happened back in July and is only now winding its way through the federal system.

Barack Obama and his administration are about to significantly drive up the costs of federal building construction. This is an astonishing reach. The Office of Management and Budget has directed that any federal construction over $25 million benefit unions.

The order would make all federal construction projects 10-20% more expensive by requiring all contractors to either use union workers or apply inefficient union apprenticeship and work rules to their employees. Contractors would also be required to make contributions to union pension funds and other union programs that non-union workers will never benefit from.

This will hugely drive up the cost of construction of federal buildings and line the pockets of unions without even having union workers involved in the projects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that only 15.6% of private construction workers in America belong to unions. In other words, 8 out of 10 construction workers in America will be legally denied the right to work on federal building projects.

This is appalling.

Great news in the midst of a recession, right?

COMMENTS: Why is this not all over the news? Union thugs back in charge in this Country? The unions had their purpose when workers were expected to work long hours in unsafe conditions but what is their purpose today? They spend more time organizing for Obama and supporting Obamacare especially the SEIU then anyone. What gives? Are they being paid with stimulus money to do Obama's bidding? Soros money being the SEIU? So many questions that the media never asks but bloggers ask daily.