Union Issue - Loss of Productivity / Schedule Impact
May 10, 2021
15
| Project Phase- Construction/Installation Delivery Method- General Contract-Prime CCC (Prime) and Demo Contractor Adamo (Subcontractor) were contracted to perform a Demo Strip out of the Chicago Assembly Plant Body Sides Bldg and Body Shop. Over 1,500,000 sf of Demo to be completed in 7 days. Almost unrealistic schedule and no room for float and interruptions. As CCC and Adamo have never worked in plant prior to this contract and were relatively unfamiliar with local unions and tactics on out of town contractors, there was an added variable to complete this project safely and per schedule. 1) To complete this project per Ford Schedule and as done in 3 previous projects, Adamo planned to utilize their experienced in-house union Laborers and Operators who are familiar with this type of selective demo and travel all over the country with Adamo to execute contracts like this. Adamo would fill the balance of the labor force with Local Hall Laborers and Operators and utilize locals wherever possible. Demo with Shears and Grapples and Loaders and Burners in a Plant is very specialized and tradesmen must be skilled with type of work or Delays, productivity issues and safety issues will compromise overall project plan. The Laborers Local was not an issue, but the Local 150 Operating Engineers were not willing to agree with Adamo''s List of Travelers and were non-responsive until 1 week before major shutdown to complete 95% of the contract. At that point they rejected Adamo List completely and called Ford Mgmt Direct to complain without notifying the Prime CCC. CCC Mgmt became aware that Ford was discussing project direct with Local 150 on March 2. This was 2 days before Major Demo start with burning and Shears! 2) Ford Directed CCC/Adamo to keep the union happy and comply with certain manpower Travel to Local Union Ratio. Upon starting it was apparent that the Local Operators (Majority of the Tradesmen) were either not qualified, trained or disruptive to the project and some had never even worked in an Auto Plant. That coupled with Constant Local 150 threats to travelers and complaints and phone calls to Ford and sabotage and sandbagging greatly affected the Demo in the Body Shop Plant. Schedule slipped 4 shifts and couldn''t regain the original plan and the opinion of the CCC Adamo team was Local 150 was trying to make a statement to not bring in outside Chicago demo company. |
