Catherwood LibraryILR School

Construction unions persuaded the Senate to add provisions to the health bill that benefit contractors who use union labor. The provision changes the number of workers small businesses can have before providing health care from 50 to 5. The unions say that without the provision, non-union employers would have an unfair advantage over union employers. Leaders from the construction industry say that because most construction firms have under fifty workers, without the provision, most employers would be able to avoid providing health care. Opponents of the provision believe that it will cause more layoffs in the construction industry, which has an unemployment rate of 19.4%