ABC and the Merit Shop Philosophy

The Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. is the voice of the Merit Shop in the construction industry. We assume the responsibility of making that voice heard.

We believe in the system of Free Enterprise.

We believe that employees and employers should have the right to determine wages and working conditions, through either individual or collective bargaining, as they choose, within the boundaries of the law.

We believe that the employer must have concern for the general welfare of the employee and that there must be a fair compensation for work performed. By the same token, we believe that the employee has an obligation for satisfactory performance of assigned work.

We support sound legislation in the areas of workers' compensation , safety and unemployment compensation. We believe legislation that embraces fair play for both employer and employee is essential to the preservation of our Free Enterprise system. The law should protect the right of the employees to work regardless of race, color, creed, age, sex or membership or non-membership in a labor organization.

We oppose violence, coercion, intimidation and the denial of the rights of the free working person and free management.

We believe that economy is incumbent upon all branches of government and that government should award contracts to the lowest responsible bidder only. We oppose any unjust pressure to violate these principles.

We believe that work opportunities in this nation should be made available to all of our people, regardless of race, color, creed, age, sex or national origin, and we support programs toward this end.

We believe that monopolies, or any kind of price or wage fixing, in either the public or private sector are detrimental to our system of Free Enterprise.

We believe that the destiny of all Americans can best be served by cooperation, reconciliation and following the tenets of Free Enterprise and democratic government.

We believe businessmen can best preserve these tenets by becoming active in politics and civic affairs.