AREA STANDARDS

The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) has been conducting a survey of the Florida crane industry since May and has determined that Gulfstream Crane LLC, also commonly known as General Crane, does not meet area standards for workers’ wages and benefits.

Our survey has documented that hourly wages paid operators, mechanics, drivers and oilers vary substantially within General Crane. Operators’ wages, for instance, vary from $3 to $5 less an hour than union operators. Also, the General Crane employee pays for the majority of his or her family medical coverage which involves a $5000 deductible, while the union worker’s plan is employer paid and has a substantially more modest deductible. This results in the General Crane employee earning another nearly $3 an hour less than his union peers. General Crane’s 401K program has spotty participation and those who do participate contribute at least 75% of the total cost of the plan. Union crane industry workers, who have a defined benefit plan, enjoy employer contributions of approximately $3.50 an hour.

Therefore, we estimate that a General Crane operator effectively earns as much as $12 an hour less (in total wages and benefits) than a union operator in Florida. The payment of substandard wages and benefits diminishes Florida construction workers’ ability to provide for their families, places these workers one health care catastrophe away from bankruptcy, and means they will be less secure in their retirement. Combined with high current unemployment, substandard wages and benefits undercut the living standards of the entire community.

The IUOE is not seeking to represent the employees of General Crane or any of its affiliates featured on this site.