Labor Agreement Unfair to Nonunion Contractors

As an employee of an open shop--nonunion--construction company, I am shocked and disappointed by Dana Parsons’ June 13 column (“Congressmen Aren’t Looking for the Union Label in County”).

Why should congressmen in Orange County discriminate against contractors just because they choose not to join a labor union? Especially since the open-shop sector of the construction industry represents 80% of the work force.

Parsons fails to recognize that 80% of Orange County-based electricians, plumbers, carpenters and others will not have the right to build the projects they pay for.

These skilled employees, not the so-called “illegal residents” mentioned by Parsons, have the same training as their union counterparts and therefore the same right to work on public projects in Orange County.

Parsons conveniently neglects the immeasurable cost to taxpayers that this marital covenant has created. Simply put, any time 80% of potential bidders on a project are effectively banned from participation in the process, competition is stifled and costs go up.

The obvious remedy to this problem is the immediate repeal of the Orange County Construction Stabilization Agreement Program. This will allow all contractors who comply with state and federal regulations equal rights to bid on public projects in Orange County.

Let’s marry for love and goodness--and return to the values which we love in Orange County. What politics has joined will put us under!

Ray Chafe

Orange