Illinois Surveyors to become Union?

> So I hear that the Surveyor's Union that is present in Chicagoland will be moving into the downstate St. Louis Metro area. Any of you northern IL guys know anything about this? I know all the Engineers for IDOT are in a union. [color=#f00I have heard that all jobs in the State of IL that are publicly funded will now require Union surveyors...Hum.
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> Don't get me wrong, I have Union members in my family (wife) and I'm not bashing unions. Just another example of Professional Societies that are full of "members" that don't do anything to protect our profession but set back and let the politicians determine our demise.
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> I'm sure Missouri will be next, we have lots of those "members" too.
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> Maybe I should start making buggy whips on the weekends...
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> I just sayin' :-/
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>> http://www.plumberslu130ua.com/site/section/4/16br >

I have always felt that the government telling people who they MUST use for any work verged on the unconstitutional. Other than this questionable law, what would be the benefit of having to join a union? I suppose surveying is as close to a sweat shop operation that we still have going, but I cannot see the necessity of this for surveyors. I much prefer working in a "right to work" state. Unions are more interested in politics and personal power than they are in individual members.

So now, as a licensed surveyor, there will be even more people on a job making more money than me, with less responsibility....

An ongoing battle......

If that nonsense ever came to this neck of the country they'd have one less surveyor.

I am so glad that is not the issue in Texas. I abhor unions.

Another step closer to make Surveying a trade instead of a profession.

The Plumber's union covers surveyors??? Does that mean that you would be required to wear your pant real low and show a little butt crack? :-X

Well, its something like this....the US Dept of Labor has also made the same changes and apparently accepted the change or inclusion of our field work to fall under the Prevailing Wage Act, when performing the task of driving stakes into the ground for layout of public works projects.

In IL, it was the Operating Engineers Union which petitioned the Dept of Labor to make these changes to our Prevailing Wage Act back in July and the process does not allow for dissent from affected parties. So, as quick as October 1st the northern 24 counties of IL have now added "survey worker" as a new category and modified the description under Laborer, Class I Heavy Highway to include "Rodman, Chainman".

When the IL Dept of Labor was asked to hear our side of the discussion, we were denied a hearing to do so...even though the Dept of Labor's own procedures require it to do so.

So now, the legal battle has begun. Professional Design Associations have joined with other like-minded entities and are collecting background data to present in future court proceedings. We will likely be spending tens of thousands of dollars to reverse or at least modify the ruling.

NSPS has spoken out on this very topic and a couple of US Senators on a Labor oversight committee has asked the US Dept of Labor to share its proceedures and hearing minutes to expose the back room deals that have occurred.

Stay tuned, there are more datardly things coming our way.

"No man can serve two masters"

Thank you for the insight and information on this. It will directly affect me as we currently do a fair amount of layout in IL.