In 1950, seven contractors in Baltimore stood at a crossroads. Fed up with closed-shop mandates and a lack of advocacy for open-shop professionals, they laid the foundation for a movement. That movement became The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), a national force championing the merit shop philosophy and protecting the rights of contractors to work, hire, and advance based on ability, not affiliation.
Seventy-five years later, that fight remains as relevant as ever. In a time of innovation, workforce challenges, and complex policy shifts, the merit shop still serves as a powerful counterbalance – promoting freedom, fairness, and opportunity in the construction industry.
The origin story: Built on principle
To understand the value of the merit shop today, we have to look back to the past.
Following the Great Depression, labor tensions soared. The Wagner Act of 1935 established the National Labor Relations Board and laid the groundwork for union expansion. But by the mid-1940s, cracks in the system were beginning to show, especially for contractors who believed in rewarding hard work and skill over tenure or membership.
The passage of the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947 was a turning point. It restricted the power of unions and opened the door for states to pass right-to-work laws, giving rise to the modern concept of free enterprise in construction. In 1950, ABC was established to ensure that open shop contractors had a voice and a seat at the table.
Resilience and reform
ABC’s early years were marked by adversity, including legal challenges and even physical violence in the 1970s. But the association’s commitment to free enterprise and open competition never wavered. In fact, it grew stronger.
At a time when forced unionism dominated the landscape, ABC gave contractors another path forward – one grounded in fairness, opportunity, and results. The goal was not to eliminate unions, but to protect a contractor’s right to choose and to compete on a level playing field.
From the beginning, ABC has backed its values with action. Long before safety became an industry standard, ABC emphasized health and safety as a core component of excellence. The Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) program was one of the first industry-wide initiatives to create measurable, data-driven accountability for jobsite safety.
In 1982, ABC launched the Wheels of Learning program, which became a cornerstone for workforce development. That early investment in education and skills training set the foundation for today’s nationally recognized apprenticeship programs.
Why merit shop still matters
Merit shop empowers business owners to build teams based on performance and offers workers the chance to advance on merit, rather than seniority. And most importantly, it opens the door for broader access to opportunity, particularly for new entrants, small firms, and nontraditional talent.
It’s no coincidence that today, many construction professionals choose to work outside of unions. The merit shop gives them that option.
For contractors today, this matters more than ever. At the West Tennessee Chapter of ABC (WTCABC), we’re advocating for policies that protect free enterprise, combat overregulation, and keep projects in our region moving forward. When legislation threatens to limit job access or impose one-size-fits-all mandates, we fight on your behalf – in the courts, in the Capitol, and in your communities.
A legacy of leadership – and a future of possibility
Today, WTCABC continues the legacy of ABC National – ensuring that work opportunities are made available to all for the betterment of the individual, the company, the industry, and the nation as a whole.
As ABC National celebrates 75 years, WTCABC is committed to the road ahead, continuing to forge the foundation for what’s next in the construction industry.
