In trying to keep job costs under control, contractors in New York City are trying to lower labor costs by 25 percent by negotiating with their unions. Key quote:
“…union members are not being asked to outright take pay cuts. Instead, contractors are seeking productivity gains that would effectively lower their costs. For example, contractors want the unions to stagger work hours so that workers aren’t waiting around with nothing to do until their skills are needed on a project.”
Waiting around with nothing to do? Perhaps that explains why it costs more than $400 a square foot to build in NYC vs. $150 in Atlanta or $180 in Chicago.
