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Welcome!

Learn about the chapter!

Recognized as one of the most influential and fastest growing organizations in the country, ABC is a national association of dedicated individuals, companies and corporations who, for over half a century, have advanced and defended free enterprise, excellence and the Merit Shop philosophy throughout the construction industry. Since 1971, ABC has been the champion of free enterprise in Louisiana. ABC's Pelican Chapter is returning profit to the industry and the individual.

Merit Philosophy

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is the industry's voice for merit shop construction, having coined the term to describe a method of doing business that rewards people based on their skills, knowledge, and abilities – not on their membership or ranking in an organization or group. Work should be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder regardless of labor affiliations. ABC believes that union and merit shop (open shop) contractors should work together in harmony.

ABC is the only construction association that promotes the merit shop philosophy and actively markets it membership to the construction industry. ABC has over 23,000 members nationwide with more than 81 chapters covering the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Guam.

ABC members (600 members in Louisiana) support sound legislation in the areas of workers' compensation, safety, and unemployment compensation. ABC and its members believe legislation embraces fair play for both employer and employee that is the underpinning of our free enterprise system. Laws should protect the rights of employees to work regardless of membership or nonmembership in a labor organization.

Some of the key points regarding the role of merit shop construction in building America include:

• Merit shop construction offers unlimited growth and career advancement.
• Merit shop construction protects an individual's right to work and embraces the principle of fair play.
• Merit shop construction accounts for approximately 80% of the construction put in place in the United States.
• Industry polls reveal that 92% of the construction workers employed by merit shop companies have more work hours available per year than their union counterparts.

ABC promotes and defends the individual's rights to unlimited opportunities. Merit shop construction provides unlimited growth and career advancement to workers who recognize the value of hard work and dedication. Skill development and experience lead up the path of personal career growth.

ABC and its members firmly believe that work opportunities in this nation should be available to all people, regardless of race, color, creed, age, sex, or national origin.