It is a well-established fact that, in the construction industry, projects performed by non-union contractors are generally less expensive than similar projects performed by union contractors. Consequently, one would expect that governments would be loath to limit bidding on construction jobs under their control to union contractors only - so-called "closed shops". This especially so today, given the pressure that escalating entitlement costs and uncertain revenues are exerting on public budgets. The opposite seems the be the case. however, as governments across the province adopt restrictive practices that limit bidding to union contractors only. A key reason for this policy is the widely-held belief that unions enhance workplace safety, resulting in fewer accidents and a commensurate reduction in lost time due to injury and reduced payout of benefits.
This paper examines available research on the topic to determine if indeed this so-called "union safety effect" is myth or fact.
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