Bronks, where should I start?
Union labor in NYC is a lil spoiled and has a sense of entitlement.
The premiums being paid for work to be performed are too high given the productivity received. One really has to ask the question why is a union carpenter or electrician is making more than say someone like a teacher who play are far more significant role in shaping our society. Their rates could stand to be reeled in given what you as a taxpayer is getting in return on the most current municipal project.
Additionally, that motto of union quality goes out the window once a job is manned with "hall guys" as opposed to employer selected company men. These are the men that no company wishes to hire on a regular basis because of lousy craftsmanship, are criminals, or in most case are flat out lazy. They end up being called because seasonal demand absorbs all the decent tradesmen. They end up on the job, feign productivity, cause labor riffs, or literally do nothing all day and in some cases SLEEP. They and non working shop stewards wearing dress shoes to site command the latest negotiated project labor agreement rates that can amount to $80/hr (includes benefits) and the construction client whether a developer on a private job or a municipality (really you the taxpayer) has to absorb this All under guise of "union quality".
I won't say that there isn't a need for organized labor. But the current system is BROKEN.
Hey, great. You operate a crane and that is a rare skill. But, twisted is the system that rewards a person whom makes $500,000 a year or even lets for argument sake half that as an employee with a high school education. Where the licensed Engineer on the same job goes to College, gets an engineering degree, passes the state PE exam, then bears the risk by stamping the drawing set with his steel design and makes a fifth of the crane operator. It's truly ass backwards. Then sit there and listen to these guys complain that they are being trampled underfoot by the GC, CM, the city, the last 3 presidents and whoever else they can think of.
The system is broken
Organized labor in NYC has always been a racket and will continue to be one.
You'll be surprised what you can accomplish with a small army of non-union Mexicans!